A novel approach in public health surveillance: searching the illegal dairy trade in Facebook. Issue 5 (4th May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fagnani, Rafael; dos Santos Bueno, Beatriz; Mikio Itida, Rafael; Arena Galhardo, Juliana; Vanot, Rogério Luiz
• Is Part Of: International journal of environmental health research. Volume 33:Issue 5(2023)
• Page Start: 518
• Page End: 528
• Publication Date: 2023-05-04
• Subjects: Informal markets -- inspection -- milk -- cheese; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 363.7
• DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2022.2039594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-3123

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper uses the internet-based biosurveillance to describe the Brazilian e-commerce of non-inspected dairy products and maps its traditional sale in a medium-sized city (Londrina). We searched the sales of illegal dairy products on Facebook Marketplace and conducted a census of street markets and a random sample of formal markets. Although prohibited in Brazil, consumers can easily find informal dairy products on internet and retail sale. In addition, 7% of the food products hold a false label to mimic food inspection. The e-commerce was linked with regions with higher access to technology and Human Development Index (HDI). We believe that our approach shows a step forward in the public health interventions and could be replicated stimulating debates about policies required to improve the public health surveillance.