Many people do not think about food safety until a food-related illness affects them or a family member. There is still a lot that we do not know about foodborne illness. Sixty percent (60%) of food outbreaks are still caused by unknown sources. Some of alarming death case studies are as follows:

a. Mad cow disease – more than 100 deaths
b. Belgian dioxins – more than Euro 1 billion lost
c. ConAgra exited the meat processing business after mishandled hamburger problem
d. Perrier spent $55million and lost nearly a year’s sales in the US
e. Taco Bells spent $66 million in compensation due to GMO contamination
f. Jack-in-the-Box spent $126 million in compensation after e-coli scare

Preventing foodborne illness and death remains a major public health challenge. In United States alone, it is estimated that 76 million people get sick, more than 300,000 are hospitalized, and 5,000 Americans die each year from foodborne illness.

Prevention is mainly the role, through the definition of strict rules of hygiene and a public service of veterinary survey of the food chain, from farming to the transformation industry and the delivery (shops and restaurants). Prevention measures could be introduced to include the followings:

1. traceability: in a final product, make possible to know the origin of the ingredients (originating
    farm,identification of the harvesting or of the animal) and where and when it was
2. processed; the origin of the illness can thus be tracked and solved (and possibly penalized),
    and the final products can be removed from the sale if a problem is detected;
3. respect of hygiene procedures like HACCP and the "cold chain";
4. power of control and of law enforcement of the veterinarians

It is a well known fact that food traceability is important in controlling the food-related illness risk. It can be use to tracking cattle from birth to finished product to control the risk of mad cow disease. A new European law applies since 1st January 2005 which requires traceability of food and animal feed at all stages of production, processing and distribution. Currently, there are more than 12 European regulations now oblige traceability.

In Europe, big supermarkets have introduced traceability brands and brands have been developed based on origins and farming methods. Examples include Agricultura Ecologica, Soil Association’s Organic Standard, Ruchan, Natur Seleccion, and Calidad Tradicion Carrefour.