[Seafood transmitted diseases]

This paper reviews seafood related bacterial, viral and parasitological hazards for consumers worldwide. Seafood from Europe is generally regarded as safe. Food safety risks associated with aquaculture products results from contamination with biological agents, which are greater in freshwater and coastal ecosystems than in open seas. Due to the consumption conditions and the intensive investigations of imported products with contamination of pathogenic bacteria there are little seafood risks in Europe. Viral infections are associated with consumption of raw or recontaminated shellfish. There has been speculation that more than 50% of the outbreaks of unknown aethiology are due to viruses. Foodborne parasitic hazards are associated with the consumption of raw (sushi) or insufficiently heated, marinated and salted seafood.