Climate disaster will make food hazardous to health

Swedish Food Agency: Global Warming Will Foster Food Pathogens

human health. The organization concluded that the impending climate catastrophe is contributing to the development of pathogens in food, writes the Food Safety News portal.

Experts have studied the potential impact of warming on different types of food – meat, fish, eggs, grains and dairy products, fruits, berries and vegetables. According to preliminary data, as temperatures and humidity rise, there will be more bacteria, viruses, parasites and toxins that can be contained in food and drinks and provoke disease.

The researchers predict that there will be a sharp increase in the likelihood of contracting anthrax, tularemia (which affects the lymph nodes), salmonellosis, dysentery (intestinal damage) and vibriosis. In addition, campylobacter, listeria and other harmful microorganisms that cause intestinal infections will be more common. The Swedish Food Agency also expects more toxins in food – biological poisons that mold can release.

The main reasons for the decline in food security, researchers named more frequent droughts and floods, which will change the usual conditions for growing crops , livestock breeding, and will also affect energy supply and water availability.

However, the situation will largely depend on specific climate scenarios and mitigation measures for the negative impact on the planet. To prevent catastrophic consequences, the researchers advised to adapt food production to the new natural conditions.

Previously, humanity was urged to abandon several types of food in order to save the planet. Analysts at Credit Suisse found that in order to maintain acceptable levels of emissions to contain global warming, people need to eliminate red meat, beer and coffee from their diet. Instead, scientists have suggested eating chicken and seafood a couple of times a week and occasionally indulging in wine and diet soda.

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