EFSA Journal最新文献

{"title":"Avian influenza overview September–December 2024","authors":"European Food Safety Authority, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control,&nbsp;European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza,&nbsp;Leonidas Alexakis,&nbsp;Hubert Buczkowski,&nbsp;Mariette Ducatez,&nbsp;Alice Fusaro,&nbsp;Jose L. Gonzales,&nbsp;Thijs Kuiken,&nbsp;Karl Ståhl,&nbsp;Christoph Staubach,&nbsp;Olov Svartström,&nbsp;Calogero Terregino,&nbsp;Katriina Willgert,&nbsp;Miguel Melo,&nbsp;Lisa Kohnle","doi":"10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9204","DOIUrl":"10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9204","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Between 21 September and 6 December 2024, 657 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) and A(H5N5) virus detections were reported in domestic (341) and wild (316) birds across 27 countries in Europe. Many HPAI outbreaks in domestic birds were clustered in areas with high poultry density and characterised by secondary farm-to-farm spread. Waterfowl, particularly the mute swan, were primarily affected during this reporting period, with HPAI virus detections focused on south-eastern Europe. Notably, A(H5N5) viruses expanded their geographic and host range, resulting in a surge in detections and mortality events described in gulls and crows. No new HPAI virus detections in mammals were reported in Europe during this reporting period, but the number of dairy cattle farms reportedly affected in the United States of America (USA) rose to &gt;800 in 16 States, and HPAI virus was identified in two pigs in a mixed-species farm. Between 21 September and 11 December 2024, 56 new human cases with avian influenza virus infection were reported from North America (45 A(H5N1) cases), Viet Nam (one A(H5)) and China (ten A(H9N2) cases). Most of the A(H5) human cases in North America (95.6%, <i>n</i> = 43/45) had reported exposure to poultry, live poultry markets, or dairy cattle prior to avian influenza virus detection or onset of illness. Human infections with avian influenza viruses remain rare and no evidence of human-to-human transmission has been documented in the reporting period. The risk of infection with currently circulating avian A(H5) influenza viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b in Europe remains low for the general public in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA). The risk of infection remains low-to-moderate for those occupationally or otherwise exposed to infected animals or contaminated environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":11657,"journal":{"name":"EFSA Journal","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11719707/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142969047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revised dietary exposure assessment of the food enzyme thrombin from cattle (bovines) and pig's blood","authors":"EFSA Panel on Food Enzymes (FEZ),&nbsp;Holger Zorn,&nbsp;José Manuel Barat Baviera,&nbsp;Claudia Bolognesi,&nbsp;Francesco Catania,&nbsp;Gabriele Gadermaier,&nbsp;Ralf Greiner,&nbsp;Baltasar Mayo,&nbsp;Alicja Mortensen,&nbsp;Yrjö Henrik Roos,&nbsp;Marize L. M. Solano,&nbsp;Monika Sramkova,&nbsp;Henk Van Loveren,&nbsp;Laurence Vernis,&nbsp;Daniele Cavanna,&nbsp;Giulio Di Piazza,&nbsp;Yi Liu","doi":"10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9168","DOIUrl":"10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9168","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The food enzyme thrombin (EC 3.4.21.5) is produced from cattle and pig's blood by Sonac. A safety evaluation of this food enzyme was made previously, in which EFSA concluded that, under the intended conditions of use, this food enzyme did not give rise to safety concerns. Due to the implementation of a new methodology to estimate the dietary exposure to food enzymes in 2016, the European Commission requested EFSA to revise the exposure assessment of this food enzyme by using this new methodology. In this assessment, EFSA realigned the intended uses of this food enzyme to the processing of meat and fish products for the production of modified meat and fish products. The dietary exposure was calculated to be below 0.0001 mg total organic solids/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. The intake of prothrombin (the precursor of thrombin) from animal blood in the diet of European population is also below 0.0001 mg/kg bw per day. Based on the origin of the food enzyme from edible parts of animals, the previous evaluation of the manufacturing process and the compositional data, and the comparable exposure estimation between the use of the food enzyme and its source, the Panel concluded that the food enzyme thrombin derived from cattle (bovine) and pig's blood does not give rise to safety concerns under the intended conditions of use.</p>","PeriodicalId":11657,"journal":{"name":"EFSA Journal","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11712102/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142969965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pest categorisation of Lepidosaphes pistaciae","authors":"EFSA Panel on Plant Health (PLH),&nbsp;Antonio Vicent Civera,&nbsp;Paula Baptista,&nbsp;Anna Berlin,&nbsp;Elisavet Chatzivassiliou,&nbsp;Jaime Cubero,&nbsp;Nik Cunniffe,&nbsp;Eduardo de la Peña,&nbsp;Nicolas Desneux,&nbsp;Francesco Di Serio,&nbsp;Anna Filipiak,&nbsp;Paolo Gonthier,&nbsp;Beata Hasiów-Jaroszewska,&nbsp;Hervé Jactel,&nbsp;Blanca B. Landa,&nbsp;Lara Maistrello,&nbsp;David Makowski,&nbsp;Panagiotis Milonas,&nbsp;Nikos T. Papadopoulos,&nbsp;Roel Potting,&nbsp;Hanna Susi,&nbsp;Dirk Jan van der Gaag,&nbsp;Alex Gobbi,&nbsp;Virag Kertesz,&nbsp;Andrea Maiorano,&nbsp;Dimitrios Papachristos,&nbsp;Oresteia Sfyra","doi":"10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9152","DOIUrl":"10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9152","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Following the commodity risk assessment of <i>Prunus persica</i> and <i>P. dulcis</i> plants for planting from Türkiye, in which <i>Lepidosaphes pistaciae</i> (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), the pistachio oyster scale or yellow pistachio scale, was identified as a pest of possible concern, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation for the territory of the European Union (EU). <i>L. pistaciae</i> is reported as a polyphagous pest which, however, mainly affects plants of the genus <i>Pistacia.</i> Originating from Asia, it is widely distributed in pistachio producing countries of Central, South and West Asia. Within the EU, the pest has been reported from Cyprus and Greece. However, its precise distribution within Cyprus and Greece is unknown. It completes two generations per year and overwinters as a fully developed adult female. The eggs are hidden under the female's body and hatch around April. First-instar nymphs, crawlers, move on host plants for a short period of time before becoming permanently settled and initiating feeding, mainly on leaves but also on branches and fruits. Young females appear in early June and mature ones in late June. Plants for planting and fruits provide potential pathways for entry into the EU. Climate suitability suggests that it could further establish in large parts of the EU. In Iran, <i>L. pistaciae</i> is considered a devastating pest for cultivated pistachio. <i>L. pistaciae</i> was detected in Greece over 30 years ago with small population densities and without any records of damage. It was also found in Cyprus in 1967 and nowadays is not considered a major pest. Its ability to cause an impact in the EU is uncertain considering the lack of evidence on impact in Cyprus and Greece. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry. While the fulfilment of the criterion on having an economic or environmental impact in the EU is associated with a key uncertainty, all the other criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as a potential quarantine pest are met.</p>","PeriodicalId":11657,"journal":{"name":"EFSA Journal","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11716986/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142969844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 30094 for all animal species (Volac International Ltd)","authors":"EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP),&nbsp;Roberto Edoardo Villa,&nbsp;Giovanna Azimonti,&nbsp;Eleftherios Bonos,&nbsp;Henrik Christensen,&nbsp;Mojca Durjava,&nbsp;Birgit Dusemund,&nbsp;Ronette Gehring,&nbsp;Boet Glandorf,&nbsp;Maryline Kouba,&nbsp;Marta López-Alonso,&nbsp;Francesca Marcon,&nbsp;Carlo Nebbia,&nbsp;Alena Pechová,&nbsp;Miguel Prieto-Maradona,&nbsp;Ilen Röhe,&nbsp;Katerina Theodoridou,&nbsp;Montserrat Anguita,&nbsp;Nicole Bozzi Cionci,&nbsp;Rosella Brozzi,&nbsp;Joana P. Firmino,&nbsp;Matteo L. Innocenti,&nbsp;Joana Revez,&nbsp;Jordi Tarrés-Call,&nbsp;Piera Valeri,&nbsp;Yolanda García-Cazorla","doi":"10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9144","DOIUrl":"10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9144","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> NCIMB 30094 as a technological additive (functional group: silage additive) for use in fresh material for all animal species. The additive is intended for use at a proposed minimum concentration of 1 × 10⁹ colony forming units (CFU)/kg fresh plant material. The bacterial species <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety approach to safety assessment. The identity of the strain was established and no acquired antimicrobial resistance genes of concern were detected. Therefore, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that the use of the strain as a silage additive is considered safe for all animal species, for consumers of products from animals fed with the treated silage and for the environment. Regarding user safety, the additive consists of a microorganism, and any exposure through skin and respiratory tract is considered a risk. The additive was shown to be irritant for eyes, but not for skin. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that <i>L. plantarum</i> NCIMB 30094 at the proposed inclusion rate has the potential to improve the production of silage from all fresh plant material.</p>","PeriodicalId":11657,"journal":{"name":"EFSA Journal","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11711969/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142969968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk assessment of food contact materials","authors":"Giorgia Maria Varalda,&nbsp;Sebastian Zellmer,&nbsp;Thomas Tietz","doi":"10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221107","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Food Contact Materials (FCMs), such as plastics, papers, ceramics and inks used in food packaging, containers, kitchen utensils and tableware are subject to scrutiny due to their potential to release toxic compounds into food. In the European Union, materials and articles intended for contact with food must adhere to stringent safety regulations and novel materials not explicitly covered by existing legislation require individual risk assessment. This project focused on the assessment of the genotoxic potential of two substances used in FCMs, specifically neodecanoic acid (NDA) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), for which data gaps have been identified in genotoxicity studies. NDA was selected because it was re-evaluated due to the intention to approve its use in printing inks for FCMs. For DEHP, various studies on genotoxicity are available, which, however, differ in their outcome. DEHP is commonly used as a plasticiser to enhance the flexibility, transparency, durability of plastics and is ubiquitously detected in daily life. The present study followed the EFSA strategy for the assessment of genotoxicity applying in vitro methods in bacterial and mammalian cells as well as in silico approaches. In this context, aneuploidy, a thresholded genotoxic effect, received particular attention since few indications are available on the aneugenic activity of FCMs. The results showed significant findings that require further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":11657,"journal":{"name":"EFSA Journal","volume":"22 S1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221107","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142868910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk assessment of oligomers and potentially harmful chemical compounds from food packaging simulated using an in vitro digestion model","authors":"Luis Jiménez-Munoz,&nbsp;Aristea Papaioannou,&nbsp;Alexandra Anyfanti,&nbsp;Milena Corredig,&nbsp;Georgios Theodoridis,&nbsp;Christina Virgiliou","doi":"10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221108","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The objective of this study, PLASTOGEST, was to evaluate the risk associated with oligomers and other potentially harmful chemical compounds when consumed by humans through food. This research systematically reviewed existing literature and applies untargeted analysis to assess the fate of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) and intentionally added substances (IAS) during in vitro digestion. Polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate oligomers and simulation of real food conditions were used to evaluate migration and how these oligomers behave during in vitro digestion. This approach, involving enzymes and digestive juices, measured bioavailable levels of these substances in humans. The analytical work, including sample preparation was performed at Aarhus University, whilst extraction and untargeted analysis using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography trap ion mobility spectroscopy time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TIMS/TOF-MS), were performed at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The EUFORA fellow gained insights into advanced analytical techniques and risk assessment, following specific EFSA guidelines. The study aimed to enhance our understanding on how plastic packaging materials might affect human health, potentially leading to more rigorous risk assessment frameworks.</p>","PeriodicalId":11657,"journal":{"name":"EFSA Journal","volume":"22 S1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221108","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142868879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring frameworks for quantitative risk assessment of antimicrobial resistance along the food chain","authors":"Tiina Mandel,&nbsp;Maria Francesca Iulietto,&nbsp;Mari Reinik,&nbsp;Roberto Condoleo","doi":"10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221117","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Campylobacter</i> is one of the most reported causes of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Birds are the predominant reservoirs for thermotolerant <i>Campylobacter</i>, therefore consumption of contaminated and undercooked poultry products represents one of the major transmission routes for campylobacteriosis. In addition to foodborne diseases, another relevant public challenge is the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), impacting also the food chain. The occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant <i>Campylobacter</i> in broiler meat poses a significant threat to public health. In this context, quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) might support policy-makers in addressing these challenges. Hence, this project aimed to describe the current status of knowledge on occurrence of AMR <i>Campylobacter</i> at a global scale, with focus in estimating the prevalence of fluoroquinolone-resistant <i>Campylobacter</i> isolated from broiler meat at retail level. Following the drafting of a dedicated protocol, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis were conducted. Based on the extracted data, after the determination of the proportion of AMR isolates, the proportions were compared by <i>Campylobacter</i> species, geographical regions, processing step and sampling matrices. Meta-analysis allowed the estimation of the pooled prevalences of resistant isolates by regions and species, combining the findings from different independent studies in a comparable way. In terms of future perspectives, the outcome of this project will support future risk assessment and provide valuable inputs for estimating consumer exposure to AMR <i>Campylobacter</i> via broiler meat consumption. In conclusion, this report will provide a general overview of activities, preliminary results and research performed during the EU-FORA fellowship programme (2023/2024).</p>","PeriodicalId":11657,"journal":{"name":"EFSA Journal","volume":"22 S1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221117","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142868903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Q4MRATools: Quantitative tools to microbial risk assessment","authors":"Olga María Bonilla Luque,&nbsp;Antonio Valero,&nbsp;Arícia Possas,&nbsp;Styliani Roufou,&nbsp;Jefferson de Oliveira Mallia,&nbsp;Vasilis Valdramidis","doi":"10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221113","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221113","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the context of the European Food Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) fellowship programme, the project ‘Q4MRATools: Quantitative Tools to Microbial Risk Assessment’ focused on training in predictive microbiology, experimental design and the use of advanced software tools like R, MATLAB, @Risk, DMFit and GInaFiT. The primary objective of this programme was to equip the fellow with foundational knowledge in quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRA), thereby contributing to the development of more effective and accurate food safety risk assessments. This initiative was part of a broader effort to address the evolving challenges in food safety by enhancing collaborative actions and developing robust food safety systems. The fellow engaged in various risk assessment tasks, acquiring fundamental knowledge in predictive microbiology, particularly different modelling strategies for growth and inactivation models, as well as understanding the nuances of microbiological behaviour under different conditions and food matrixes environments. The training emphasised the importance of experimental design and the application of software tools essential for conducting QMRA. Secondary activities were also included to broaden the fellow's competencies, expanding their expertise beyond qualitative methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":11657,"journal":{"name":"EFSA Journal","volume":"22 S1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221113","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142868986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Training in quantitative microbial risk assessment of Listeria monocytogenes in processing chains: Quantification of biofilm-cells transfer integrating virulence and persistence factors","authors":"Federico Tomasello,&nbsp;Alessandra De Cesare,&nbsp;Antonio Valero Díaz","doi":"10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221106","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Food safety is a global challenge, with nearly 1 in 10 people worldwide falling ill each year from consuming contaminated food. The risk is particularly high in ready-to-eat (RTE) products, which are consumed without further cooking to eliminate harmful microorganisms. To address this, the University of Cordoba and the University of Bologna, in the framework of the EU-FORA programme, developed a training programme focused on quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> in RTE food processing chains, a significant public health concern due to its association with severe foodborne illnesses. The programme aimed to train the fellow in advanced food microbiology techniques, predictive modelling and comprehensive QMRA methodologies. The fellow gained hands-on experience with predictive microbiology models applied to real-world scenarios, particularly RTE meat and fish products. Activities included developing predictive models for microbial growth and conducting challenge tests to evaluate <i>Listeria</i> behaviour in various foods. Emphasising data collection and statistical analysis, the fellowship explores the dynamics of Listeria within the food supply chain. A case study on sliced cooked ham demonstrates QMRA's application, using Monte Carlo simulations to estimate Listeria concentrations at consumption, ultimately informing risk management strategies. This initiative aimed to increase the number of food safety risk assessment experts in Europe, thereby enhancing public health outcomes related to foodborne diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":11657,"journal":{"name":"EFSA Journal","volume":"22 S1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221106","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142868878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combined stochastic modelling of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms","authors":"Nikola Maciejewska,&nbsp;Constantine-Richard Stefanou,&nbsp;Leonardos Stathas,&nbsp;Konstantinos Koutsoumanis","doi":"10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221112","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) of pathogens in food safety is well established, but steps are being taken to expand this methodology to food spoilage. Parallels can be drawn between the steps involved in a QMRA for pathogens and its application to specific spoilage organisms (SSO). During hazard characterisation for pathogens, the appropriate dose–response model is used to link the hazard level to the health outcome by estimating the probability of illness, resulting from the ingestion of a certain dose of the hazard. The dose–response model, in the case of food spoilage, may be translated into a spoilage-response relationship linking the spoilage-level with the probability the consumer will discard the food and not consume it. Such models are developed with sensory testing, assessing consumers sensitivity to microbial spoilage quality defects and correlating them to the SSO concentration. Ignoring food spoilage before the stated expiration date can lead to the final health risk being overestimated, since cases in which the food item poses a real risk to the consumer but is not consumed due to perceived spoilage are not excluded. Plenty of risk assessments have been carried out for pathogens in different RTE foods. What is missing is the integration of the two approaches into a single model that can estimate the risk of illness, factoring in the variability of consumer responses to spoilage. The spoilage-response relationship was combined with a stochastic modelling approach for lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> growth, also taking into account microbial interaction between LAB and <i>L. monocytogenes</i> (Jameson effect) to increase accuracy. The comparison of results between the ‘Baseline’ and the ‘Spoilage-informed’ approach showed significant difference in listeriosis cases, both for consumers under and over 65 years old. These results may suggest, that the hypothesis about overestimation of listeriosis risk in case of not taking into account product spoilage is correct. The combined QMRA model developed in the present study can be a useful tool for risk management decisions in the meat industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":11657,"journal":{"name":"EFSA Journal","volume":"22 S1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.e221112","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142868881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}