Quantifying the impact of consumer behavior on foodborne illness using a compartment model

Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, there has been increased concern about the vulnerability of the food supply chain due to food outbreaks and recalls. This concern, as well as recurring instances of foodborne illness has made food safety and food defense an important public health priority in the United States. An understanding of the contamination process serves as a foundation for action by CDC, regulatory agencies, and industry. This study focuses on a mathematical model of a food contamination event that leads to consumer illness. We specifically consider how the consumer's purchasing and consumption behavior impact their risk of food borne illness. We characterize the relationship between consumer behavior and consumer risk by product shelf life. We also show that consumer illness is more sensitive to changes in purchasing behavior rather than consumption behavior.