British life-style: Salmonella attacks!

British hospitals admissions for salmonella and E coli have reached their highest level in decades, writes ‘The Guardian’.

Admissions for salmonella infections reached 1,468 in England between April 2022 and March 2023, NHS data shows, a rate of three admissions for every 100,000 people, an all-time high.

E coli and campylobacter have also reached record highs in the past two years, with hospital admissions for the latter reaching more than 4,340, a rate of nine in 100,000 people in 2023 up from three in 100,000 in 2000.

The cause of the increase is disputed. Experts point to various factors: weakening regulatory focus, a weakening of standards in importation checks post-Brexit and local authority cuts, while the UK food standards authority puts it down to improved detection.

Whatever the reasons, the result is an “unprecedented rise in foodborne illness”.

Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University, said it was no surprise and there would be more cases “until the British public wakes up and says it is not acceptable”. He added they should ask: “Why should I play Russian roulette with food?”

He put the increase in cases down to a “weakening of state attention and regulatory focus on food hygiene and safety”. He added that the situation had been “worsened by Brexit and local authority cuts, and a fragmentation of the system of food safety governance”.

Aside from the pandemic years, admissions for salmonella reached the lowest point 10 years ago, registering 834 annual admissions in 2013. Ten years later, NHS data shows that the number is 76% higher.

On average, about 30% of salmonella admissions are typhoidal salmonella, a type that is more likely to be travel related.

In 2023, people were warned to be careful when handling and cooking poultry products at home. More than 200 people became ill with a variant of salmonella linked to poultry and eggs imported from Poland.

It is not possible to separate admissions for salmonella, E.coli and campylobacter caused by food from those caused by other methods, such as having contact with some animals or due to poor handwashing.

…Thousands in England too ashamed to go to work because they can't afford soap and deodorant. People aren't buying soap and deodorant because they are already struggling to pay other bills, reveals “Sky News”.

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