Studies on environmental epidemiology and exposition

All parties involved in the area of food share the responsibility for safe and healthy food with the aim to develop a comprehensive food system. Despite scientific achievements and improvement of food control systems in the world, diseases disseminated via food still cause serious concern for the consumers. Unsatisfactory quality of food, dietary habits as well as insufficient or extensive consumption of food can cause threat of biological, chemical or physical character as well as serious aliment problems. Healthy life requires appropriate eating habits and suitable balance of energy. Despite the fact people are well aware of the influence of diet on health, there is still no information discovered about mechanisms ensuring the link between food intake and physiological consequences. A serious attention must be paid on epidemiological analysis to determine what influence food and its intake has on health although, without an appropriate analytical base, the data of such analysis can be senseless or even misleading. Only convincing and stable base of evidence that can be obtained by making fundamental studies can serve as the basis for determining efficient correction methods.

Infectious diseases, including zoonoses, parasitoses and nosocomial infections

This area of science constantly faces challenge of continuous changeability of the agents causing infectious diseases, increase of the resistance against antibacterial preparations and occurrence of new pathogens which is determined by the globalisation of the world market as well as changes in the society and climate. Molecular biology instruments are used for determining the link between pathogens in the contents of food that have been obtained from local food, environmental and clinical samples, as well as for determining the sources of microbiological pollution in food; these instruments assist in understanding the physiology and virulence of organisms causing the most substantial risks for food. Studies made worldwide in the area of parasitology are mainly aimed at environmental and public health because parasites have a substantial influence on global economy. By making investments in the development of parasitology, monitoring programs, the improvement of the methods of diagnostics as well as in the education of general public, it is possible to make substantial restriction of the dissemination of zoonotic parasites.

Food threat risk assessment

It is generally known that people and environment are not exposed only to one dangerous substance but to a number of substances and they are in various parts of products. The influence of these various parts will not always be the same as combined influence of a mixture of various substances, and there must be information gathered about the effects of synergy of substances that are potentially dangerous for human and environmental health. Potential gains from studies in this direction are important: if cardiovascular diseases are deceased only by 1 %, it ensures substantial economy to the state health budget. But for the producers who are able to change the traditional contents of products in innovative way by making them healthier it is necessary that these innovations are based on convincing results of studies regarding the process of food processing and its nutritional value as well as the link between the structure of food and its neurobiological reaction.  These conclusions enhance innovations and ensure fostering of public health.