High-risk groups

To avoid food-borne illnesses, observe hygiene rules and the cold and heat chain. If you suspect a food to be the cause of a food-borne illness, keep it refrigerated and contact the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC): pointcontact@afsca.be or 0800 13 550. If symptoms persist or worsen, contact your general practitioner. 

Who is at risk?

A food-borne illness can be more or less severe depending on the microorganism or toxin ingested and the health of the infected person.

Some people are at greater risk of contracting a food-borne illness:

  • children
  • the elderly
  • pregnant women
  • immunosuppressed patients (those suffering from cancer, AIDS, etc.).

The main purpose of food-borne illness monitoring is to trace their cause in order to take preventive measures to avoid other cases.

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