The recent epidemic spread of HIV has created a large population of immunodefficient patients. Increase of an aging population is accompanied by decreased immunity. The promising chemotherapy for cancer also created a population with immunosuppression. As a result, the proportion of immunocompromised population has increased. Control of food-borne diseases remains a challenge as we move to the next century.
Surveillance plays an important role in identifying the cause of an illness.
Ionizing radiation that can substantially reduce the risk of food-borne illness in our population is an alternative. However, consumer fears have deterred it from using in food industry.