pathogen
Description:
Organism (e.g. bacterium, virus and parasite) that can cause disease
Context:
In food safety, a pathogen is a microorganism, such as bacteria, virus, or parasite, that can cause disease in humans, animals or plants. Common foodborne pathogens include Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli and norovirus for example.
EFSA works on pathogens by assessing the risks they pose in the food chain, collecting and analysing data on their presence in food, feed, animals and plants, and providing scientific advice to EU authorities. This helps guide policies, control measures, and safety standards to prevent illness and protect public health.