Pesticides do not play a causal role in any of the reported cases of foodborne disease outbreaks. This is because the currently measured concentrations of pesticide residues are so low that they pose no risk to health and the environment. This realisation is slowly also reaching the municipalities where increased limit values have been measured, for example, for chlorothalonil degradation products. The Aargauer Zeitung reported on the village of Mettauertal, where the limit of 0.1 micrograms was exceeded by 0.06 micrograms. The Mettauertal waterworks manager takes a pragmatic approach. He told the Aargauer Zeitung: ‘I don't want to gloss over the problem.’ However, he said there was no reason to panic: ‘Even if the limit is exceeded, the water in the Mettauertal community is safe to drink.’

Common hazards: noroviruses and bacteria

The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) has published the latest ‘Report on the monitoring of zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks’. In 2019, 23 food-borne outbreaks were reported in Switzerland. In addition, there were five known salmonella outbreaks. However, not all cases are reported to the authorities. It is also not possible to identify the pathogen causing the outbreaks in all cases. However, noroviruses and bacteria are often responsible. They find their way onto guests' plates due to a lack of hygiene practice in catering establishments. The BLV writes: ‘In at least seven cases, however, the inspections revealed problems in the implementation of good hygiene practices, for example deficits in the self-control concept and its implementation, gaps in hygiene and cleaning, as well as inadequate storage of food and an inadequate or non-existent cold chain for food with high microbiological risks’.