International Comparisons of Foodborne Illness Rates are “Problematic,” Study Suggests
A study conducted by researchers from the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), Newcastle University, and the University of Southampton suggests that international comparisons of foodborne illness rates are “problematic.” This is likely because, as foodborne illness estimation models are specific to each country, some disparities in estimated rates between countries can be attributed to differences in methodology rather than real differences in risk.
The COVID-19 pandemic shone a light on difficulties in comparing illness rates across counties, and, in light of Britain’s exit from the EU, being able to understand and compare foodborne illness rates internationally has become increasingly important to risk assessments related to food trade. Therefore, the study aimed to determine whether differences in foodborne illness rates internationally are real or due to differences in modelling approaches.