The foodborne diseases are caused by biological, chemical or physical agents. The aim of this work was the accomplishment of a research of the available data on outbreaks of foodborne diseases happened in State of Paraná, in the period from 1978 to 2000. Only little information exists on the epidemic profile of the foodborne diseases in Brazil. Besides, foodborne diseases are not always officially notified. In State of Paraná, official and available data of foodborne diseases outbreaks showed bacterial infections as more frequent etiological agents, standing out Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella sp. It was verified that the more frequently foods associates to the outbreaks are of animal origin, being the homes the places of occurrence of larger incidence. The number of foodborne outbreaks grows every year and the consumers' great part ignores the necessary requirements for a correct food handling, including the storage and mainly, the dangers that can be associated to the contaminated foods. The patient-related costs were quantified starting from data of the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) and of the Hospital de Clínicas/UFPR from Curitiba, being shown high and reaffirming that food safety's area needs more attention.
Outbreaks; food; Paraná
