Incidence of Foodborne Diseases in The Netherlands: Annual Summary 1982 and an Overview from 1979 to 1982

Abstract

Data on the incidence of foodborne disease in 1982 are presented. A total of 319 incidents affecting 1376 ill persons was analyzed. In 86 incidents (553 cases), the etiology was established. Microorganisms appeared to be the main causative agents: Bacillus cereus was responsible for 17 of these incidents (53 cases), Salmonella for 15 (83 cases), Campylobacter jejuni and Staphylococcus aureus for 11 (220 and 51 cases, respectively). Clostridium perfringens for 10 (96) and Yersinia enterocolitica for 1 (3). In 2 outbreaks (7 cases), several bacterial agents were detected without being able to discover which one had caused the symptoms. In 7 episodes (13 cases), illness resulted from ingestion of food contaminated with scombrotoxin. In one incident (4 cases), food had been contaminated with an excess of nutmeg and in 9 (20 cases) with monosodium glutamate. Two episodes (3 cases) were attributed to spoiled food. Cases of foodborne disease recorded by the Chief Medical Inspectorate, but not analyzed due to a lack of epidemiological information, included infections from Salmonella (6795), C. jejuni (1728) and Y. enterocolitica (274). Meat and meat products (24 incidents), fish and shellfish (25), snacks (21) and Dutch meals (23), but especially Chinese foods (132) were associated with incidents most frequently. About 70% of the incidents involved places where food is prepared for immediate consumption. Examples of outbreaks are presented.