The Role of Public Health Measures Achieving optimum public health requires many measures, each necessary but not sufficient in itself. The most basic measure is clean water, as recent incidents with strawberries and other fresh produce washed with contaminated water illustrate. A surveillance system has always been required and should be directed to populations at high risk. Newer methods of typing pathogens, faster response times, and enhanced analytical sensitivity are making those systems far more effective than they have been. Family health programs and education are equally necessary.
Cooking typically increases protein digestibility and destroys antinutrients.
Fortification and enrichment add, restore, or increase essential nutrients. Canning, dehydration, salting, smoking, and preservatives, combined with proper packaging and storage, decrease spoilage. Canning, freezing, refrigeration, and controlled atmosphere storage provide variety and year-round availability. Flavors, colors, pre-sale preparation, and stabilizers that prevent separation or crystallization increase consumer appeal and convenience. A second group of technologies keeps contaminants well below dangerous levels.