Animal health is a key factor in food safety as some diseases, called zoonoses, such as brucellosis, salmonella and listeriosis, can be transmitted to people. Although transmission can be through various channels, infection from food is one of the main causes of the disease.

European legislation lays down specific measures to monitor zoonoses and food-borne zoonotic agents, as well as proper epidemiological investigation into outbreaks of food-borne diseases.