Microbial risk assessment: integrating and quantifying the impacts of food processing operations on food safety

Since the late 1990s, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) has convened expert meetings and consultations to address the microbiological risk assessment (MRA). These meetings are held to provide scientific advice in response to requests for from Codex Alimentarius, the international food standard-setting body. Individuals participate in the FAO/WHO joint expert meetings on the microbiological risk assessment (JEMRA) in their personal capacity, as technical experts, yet bring diverse regional and national perspectives that contribute to practical applications, particularly for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Over 370 experts from around the globe have contributed to the meeting outcomes that have been published in nearly 40 monographs in the FAO/WHO microbial risk assessment (MRA) series, addressing particular food commodities with microbial hazard(s) combinations or a methodological aspect of microbial risk assessment. FAO/WHO MRA series inform Codex decision-making for the development of international standards for safe food and faire trade in food products; are consulted by risk managers such as food safety authorities and food business operators to make science-based decisions; and are used by academics to advance food safety research and educate the next generation of food safety professionals.

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Review of Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment in Poultry Meat: The Central Position of Consumer Behavior

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods9111661 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1661

Author(s):

Tahreem Khalid ◽

Ammar Hdaifeh ◽

Michel Federighi ◽

Enda Cummins ◽

Géraldine Boué ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Food Safety ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Poultry Meat ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Main Concern ◽

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment ◽

Knowledge Gaps ◽

Microbial Risk Assessment ◽

Microbial Risk

Food of animal origin, especially meat products, represent the main vehicle of foodborne pathogens and so are implicated in foodborne outbreaks. Poultry meat is a widely consumed food in various forms, but it is also a reservoir of thermotolerant Campylobacter and Salmonella bacterial species. To assess human health risks associated with pathogenic bacteria in poultry meat, the use of quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) has increased over the years as it is recognized to address complex food safety issues and is recommended by health authorities. The present project reviewed poultry meat QMRA, identified key steps of the farm-to-fork chain with significant impacts on food safety, highlighted current knowledge gaps, and provided risk mitigation advices. A PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)-based systematic analysis was carried out and enabled the collection of 4056 studies including 43 QMRA kept for analysis after screening. The latter emphasized Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. contaminations during the consumer stage as the main concern. The role of consumer handling on cross-contamination and undercooking events were of major concern. Thus, proper hygiene and safety practices by consumers have been suggested as the main intervention and would need to be followed with regular surveys to assess behavior changes and reduce knowledge gaps.

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Microbial Risk Assessment as a Tool for Guiding Food Safety

International Handbook of Foodborne Pathogens ◽

10.1201/9780203912065.ch51 ◽

2003 ◽

Author(s):

Janell Kause ◽

Steve Anderson ◽

Kaye Wachsmuth ◽

Carol Maczka ◽

Wayne Schlosser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Food Safety ◽

Microbial Risk Assessment ◽

Microbial Risk

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Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Methods for Food Safety in RTE Fresh Vegetables

Microbial Food Safety and Preservation Techniques ◽

10.1201/b17465-9 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 94-107

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Food Safety ◽

Assessment Methods ◽

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment ◽

Microbial Risk Assessment ◽

Microbial Risk ◽

Fresh Vegetables

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A Systematic Review of Beef Meat Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Models

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17030688 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 688 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Vincent Tesson ◽

Michel Federighi ◽

Enda Cummins ◽

Juliana de Oliveira Mota ◽

Sandrine Guillou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Food Safety ◽

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Microbial Risk Assessment ◽

Microbial Risk ◽

Beef Meat ◽

Risk Assessment Models ◽

Future Challenges ◽

Meta Analyses

Each year in Europe, meat is associated with 2.3 million foodborne illnesses, with a high contribution from beef meat. Many of these illnesses are attributed to pathogenic bacterial contamination and inadequate operations leading to growth and/or insufficient inactivation occurring along the whole farm-to-fork chain. To ensure consumer health, decision-making processes in food safety rely on Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment (QMRA) with many applications in recent decades. The present study aims to conduct a critical analysis of beef QMRAs and to identify future challenges. A systematic approach, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, was used to collate beef QMRA models, identify steps of the farm-to-fork chain considered, and analyze inputs and outputs included as well as modelling methods. A total of 2343 articles were collected and 67 were selected. These studies focused mainly on western countries and considered Escherichia coli (EHEC) and Salmonella spp. pathogens. Future challenges were identified and included the need of whole-chain assessments, centralization of data collection processes, and improvement of model interoperability through harmonization. The present analysis can serve as a source of data and information to inform QMRA framework for beef meat and will help the scientific community and food safety authorities to identify specific monitoring and research needs.

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