Disinfection of animal manures, food safety and policy

Manure is a resource, but sometimes also a nuisance. Manure management strategies have traditionally focused on soil nutrients (N, P, K), COD, and more recently biological substances (antibiotics, hormones, etc.), with disinfection being a relative afterthought. Zoonotic pathogens (Salmonella and other bacteria, protozoa, etc.) may be present in manure, but only occasionally cause foodborne disease. In countries where food is relatively safe, requiring heroic manure disinfection measures may be a net detriment to public health. Decisions that a new, elegant disinfection technology can, should, or must be done may result from invoking the "precautionary principle." Additional capital and operating costs must be passed to the consumer. Since such measures are likely to prevent very few human illnesses, policymakers should also consider the effect of increased prices on human nutrition and hunger. In most situations, not eating is more dangerous than eating.