The disease is caused by Vibrio cholerae , a bacterium. In addition to water, contaminated foods can be the vehicle of infection. Different foods, including rice, vegetables, millet gruel and various types of seafood have been implicated in outbreaks of cholera. Symptoms, including abdominal pain, vomiting and profuse watery diarrhoea, may lead to severe dehydration and possibly death, unless fluid and salt are replaced. Consumption of meat and meat products is a potential route for transmission of prions to humans.
Dioxins are unwanted by-products of industrial processes, especially waste incineration.
Exposure to POPs may result in a wide variety of adverse effects in humans. Metals, such as lead and mercury, cause neurological damage in infants and children. Exposure to cadmium can also cause kidney damage, usually seen in the elderly. Costs of Foodborne Diseases Food contamination creates an enormous social and economic burden on communities and their health systems. The safety of food derived from biotechnology needs to be carefully assessed.