
When the European Food Safety Authority published a review of the public health risk of foodborne parasites in 2018, it focused on three, which it considers to be the most pressing today and in the future immediate, either for current production systems, the effectiveness of control measures, eating habits or because of their severity. The selection included Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Echinococcus ssp. These parasites are resistant in the environment, they do not have specific controls, and the food industry’s awareness of them is variable, in contrast to what happens with Trichinella spiralis and Anisakidae .
Cryptosporidiosis is generally associated with acute gastrointestinal conditions, has no specific treatment, and outbreaks have occurred related to the consumption of contaminated fresh produce.
