This article is a comprehensive review of knowledge on HAV and provides valuable information on recent advances on virus biology, course of infection and the disease caused. Besides epidemiology data, information on virus occurrence in different food types, supported by descriptions of typical foodborne outbreaks with subsequent explanations of the mechanisms leading to food contamination, have been presented. Subsequently, the importance of employment of molecular epidemiology in identification of the viral agent in food- and waterborne outbreaks is highlighted. A concise overview is given of the methods used for HAV detection in food and water, with discussion of the requirement for application of appropriate analytical controls when food is tested for the presence of viruses.