Factors in foodborne disease control: a brief overview of issues in changing zoonotic disease transmission and the roles of public health and veterinary professionals.

Worldwide, foodborne illness remains a constant public health issue, despite improvements in husbandry, food processing, preservation, and preparation. Both veterinary medicine and public health have roles to play in the surveillance, prevention and control of this on-going issue. The objectives of this summary are to describe foodborne hazards of the 21st century, highlighting a few of the recent emerging pathogens, and identify some key areas of focus for prevention and control of foodborne illness. The roles of both public health and the veterinary profession in control will also be discussed.