Final answer:
An effective food defense system ensures food safety by preventing contamination, thus protecting public health by mitigating the risk of foodborne illnesses.
Step-by-step explanation:
An effective food defense system will accomplish several key objectives to protect public health. Its main goal is to ensure that food products are safe from contamination by pathogens and other harmful agents. This includes implementing control measures to prevent the introduction of contaminants by restricting entry to non-public areas of food establishments. By doing so, a food defense system helps to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses which can result from various pathogens such as Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella spp.
Government agencies like the FDA play a vital role in setting and enforcing regulations for food safety, including hygiene standards and traceability requirements. Food safety at home also contributes significantly to the prevention of foodborne diseases through proper food handling and culinary practices. Measures such as thorough handwashing, public health education, and safe food preparation practices are fundamental to ensuring food safety and preventing illness.