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Food Poisoning, January 2003

Cases of food poisoning in the UK increased significantly through the 1980s and 1990s. This trend has started to reverse in recent years but food poisoning remains a public health concern, with an estimated one in five people affected by infectious intestinal disease each year. The Government has set a target to reduce foodborne disease by 20% between 2001 and 2006. This briefing describes the trends in foodborne disease in the UK and examines options for meeting the Government target.