[The food poisoning problem in communal restaurant facilities]

In view of the considerable development during the last few years of communal feeding facilities (factory, school, and university canteens, hospital kitchens, self service, fast food, and restaurants) in our country as well as elsewhere, the authors wish to supply detailed information on the incidence of food poisoning in Italy from 1979 to 1988 in such facilities. They report the findings of an epidemiological study they carried out in Rome and Lazio [correction of Latium] covering this period and which by and large confirmed the trend observed at the national level. As to prevention, the most recent techniques for food conservation are described.