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Emerging Microbiological Issues Task Force

Food Chain

Objectives

The mission of the task force is to increase the understanding of (i) the impact of emerging pathogens on the food chain and on human health, and their control; (ii) the impact of factors not directly related to specific organisms that affect e.g. pathogen emergence and persistence; and (iii) the impact on safety of current and developing processing methodologies.

Impact

Task Force publications are widely read and disseminated inside and outside Europe, e.g. by the US National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. They are used as reference texts for promoting and sharing best practice in the food industry and facilitate a pro-active response to emerging food safety issues.

The task force has been collaborating with the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) in organising the food safety symposia in Europe during which they have sponsored various sessions to disseminate the results of their ongoing activities.

Activities

Food Safety Implications for Detection and Ingestion of Nucleic Acids of Inactivated Pathogens

The project is focusing on the safety implications of detecting nucleic acids emanating from inactivated food pathogens. Many molecular methods are capable of detecting small fragments of DNA or reverse transcribed RNA indicating the previous or current presence of the pathogenic organism. Unjustified concerns on the safety or health risk of the product may result from the incorrect interpretation of the results of such analysis.

The project will aim to describe:

The potential reservoirs of such organisms (ingredients, processing aids, water, etc);
The source of the nucleic acids (bacterial, viral, protozoal, etc) which may be found in the final product;
The type and state of nucleic acids likely to be found post processing – stability of RNA/DNA, outside/inside cell, fragmented/intact, etc?
The power and shortcomings of the molecular methods – live/dead, metabolically active/inactive, infective/non invective;
The consequences (if any) of such nucleic acid being present in products and ingested – Are there immunological, toxicological or gene transfer issues to be considered?

A new expert group has been set up to address this topic. It is envisaged to collate information in the ILSI Europe Report Series, which could be referred to in case the detection of nucleic acids or other residual cell components derived from inactivated pathogens in food would raise concern. As a basis for this work, use could be made of an ILSI publication that covers many of the questions that are related to the presence of nucleic acids in food.

Water and Sanitation Perspectives

ILSI Europe established a new program on water known as ‘Water and Sanitation Perspectives’. While the program is comprehensive, an initial focus has been set on the quality of water used in the production of fresh produce. In March 2011, ILSI Europe convened a kick-off meeting to define the scope of activities and the shared responsibilities among the initiative’s participants and supporters. The meeting resulted in a specific outline for an overview publication which is in development and expected to be published in 2012. The publication looks at fresh produce and microbial safety concerns; the quality of irrigation waters used in fresh produce production; microbial hazards linked to irrigation and process waters; and microbial risk assessment. The publication will provide a scientific gap analysis and make recommendations for next steps.

ILSI Europe is building a broad coalition of programme partners. Nine ILSI branches (HESI, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, North Andean, South Andean, South Africa, and Southeast Asia Region) are collaborating with ILSI Europe. In addition, the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are providing technical support. Representatives from these groups and others, such as the International Water Association and the International Water Management Institute, serve on an Advisory Group to the initiative.

The outcome of the project will be a guidance document which would contribute to improving the global sanitation situation as well as provide hands-on application and users to design a Sanitation Safety Plan.

A draft manuscript will be prepared by mid-2012 for review at the World Water week in August 2012. The paper will subsequently be published in the ILSI Europe Report Series and as article (s) in peer reviewed journals.

Persistence and Survival of Pathogens in Dry Food Processing Environments

This activity focuses on two important pathogens: Salmonella and Cronobacter spp. The aim is to review the current literature with regard to both organisms, in order to determine the extent of existing knowledge related to their persistence, survival, adaptation and other key environmental survival characteristics. The document will examine the extent to which the industry uses monitoring programmes to aid in their understanding of the bacterial ecology and niches. It will attempt to identify how this understanding is translated to enhance the microbiological safety of the process, identify where there are gaps/failures in this system and how to remedy them. Furthermore, the report will explore the relationship with hygiene practices and other industry parameters.

The impact would be to promote an understanding of pathogen adaptation as a key step in their persistence/survival in dry environments. These findings will provide better guidance for improved control of these microbiological niches in the food industry. The report was published in the ILSI Europe Report Series.

Enterobacteriaceae

Some members of the Enterobacteriaceae have had a large impact on infectious diseases, clinical microbiology and public health. They are involved in diarrhoeal diseases and recognised as one of the major bacterial food-borne pathogens. New scientific and ecological advances have revealed an expansion of the area of Enterobacteriaceae, including emerging pathogenic strains. This expert group is therefore reviewing the potential impacts of these microorganisms on food safety and microbiological risk assessment. The review focuses on advances in taxonomy, virulence characteristics, survival and persistence of Coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae.

The preliminary findings of the study were presented and discussed in the Winter Session of the Society for Applied Microbiology (SfAM) in London (January 2009) and in the 14th Conference on Food Microbiology - Liège (18-19 June 2009).

The findings of this activity have been published in the ILSI Europe Report Series.

Future Activities

The task force will consider initiating a new activity on ‘Microbial Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) in the food chain’. The other topic for consideration would be ‘Factors influencing emergence of pathogens’.

Task Force Collaborators

Members 2012

Dr. Peter McClure - Chair -	Unilever	UK

Dr. Manuela Beatrisotti	Barilla G & R Fratelli	IT
Mrs. Véronique Breyne	Coca-Cola Europe	BE
Dr. Andy Davies	H. J. Heinz	UK
Dr. John Donaghy	Nestlé	CH
Dr. Pradip Patel	Institut Mérieux	FR
Dr. Fabrice Peladan	Danone	FR
Dr. Cor van den Boogaard	Royal FrieslandCampina	NL
Dr. Anett Winkler	Kraft Foods Europe	DE

Dr. Pratima Rao Jasti	ILSI Europe	BE
Mr. Frederic Timmermans	ILSI Europe	BE

Food Safety Implications for Detection and Ingestion of Nucleic Acids of Inactivated Pathogens

Dr. John Donaghy - Chair -	Nestlé	CH

Dr. Luca Cocolin	University of Turin	IT
Mr. Pierre Renault	National Institute for Agricultural Research - INRA	FR
Prof. Paul Ross	Teagasc	IE
Prof. Marc van Ranst	University of Leuven	BE

Dr. Pratima Rao Jasti	ILSI Europe	BE

Advisory Group on Water and Sanitation Perspectives

Dr. Peter McClure - Chair -	Unilever	UK

Mrs. Viviana Aranda	ILSI South Andean	CL
Dr. Robert Bos	World Health Organization – WHO	CH
Dr. Sarah Cahill	FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization	IT
Dr. Lee-Ann Jaykus	North Carolina State University	US
Dr. Mathew Lau	Nanyang Polytechnic	SG
Ms. Annick Moreau	Danone	FR
Mr. Keng Ngee	ILSI Southeast Asia Region	SG
Dr. Liqa Raschid-Sally	International Water Management Institute	GH
Ms. Cecilia Robles	ILSI Mexico	MX
Dr. Felipe Rodriguez Palacios	ILSI Mexico	MX
Ms. Rekha Sinha	ILSI India	IN
Ms. Marta Elena Soto Rojas	ILSI North Andean	CO
Mr. Nick Starke	ILSI South Africa	SA
Prof. Thor-Axel Strenström	Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control	SE
Mr. Takashi Togami	ILSI Japan	JP
Dr. Myeong-Ae Yu	ILSI Korea	KR
Dr. Flavio Zambrone	Planitox	BR

Dr. Pratima Rao Jasti	ILSI Europe	BE

Expert Group on Water and Sanitation Perspectives

Dr. Peter McClure - Chair -	Unilever	UK

Dr. Philip Amoah/ Dr. Pay Dreschel	International Water Management Institute (IWMI)	GH
Dr. Sarah Cahill/ Dr. Marisa Caipo/ Dr. Vittorio Fattori	FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization	IT
Prof. Maria Claudia Campos Pinilla	Universidad Javeriana	CO
Dr. David Cunliffe	Public Health	AU
Dr. John Fawell	Independent Consultant	UK
Dr. Charles Gerba	University of Arizona	US
Dr. Liesbeth Jacxsens	University of Ghent	BE
Prof. Lee-Ann Jaykus	North Carolina State University	US
Prof. Lise Korsten	University of Pretoria	ZA
Dr. Mathew Lau	Nanyang Polytechnic	SG
Prof. Gertjan Medema	Delft University of Technology	NL
Prof. Maria Tereza Pepe Razzolini	Universityty of Sao Paulo	BR
Dr. Marcelo Signorini	National Institute of Agricultural Technology	AR
Prof. Mieke Uyttendaele	Ghent University	BE
Dr. Flavio Zambrone	Planitox	BR

Dr. Pratima Rao Jasti	ILSI Europe	BE

Persistence and Survival of Pathogens in Dry Food Processing Environments

Dr. Han Joosten - Chair -	Nestlé	CH

Mr. Harry Beckers	Consultant	NL
Dr. Roy Betts	Campden BRI	UK
Dr. Larry Beuchat	University of Georgia	US
Mr. François Bourdichon	Danone (now Nestlé)	FR
Prof. Seamus Fanning	University College Dublin	IE
Dr. Evangelia Komitopoulou	Leatherhead Food International	UK
Dr. Benno ter Kuile	Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority - VWA	NL
Dr. Anett Winkler	Kraft Foods Europe	DE

Dr. Pratima Rao Jasti	ILSI Europe	BE

Enterobacteriaceae

Dr. Andy Davies - Chair -	H. J. Heinz	UK

Dr. Christopher Baylis	Campden BRI	UK
Dr. Han Joosten	Nestlé	CH
Prof. Mieke Uyttendaele	University of Ghent	BE

Dr. Pratima Rao Jasti	ILSI Europe	BE

Publications

L. Beuchat, E. Komitopoulou et al. Persistence and Survival of Pathogens in Dry Food Processing Environments. ILSI Europe Series 2011: 1-48.

C. Baylis, M. Uyttendaele et al. The Enterobacteriaceae and their Significance to the Food Industry. ILSI Europe Report Series 2011: 1-48.

M. Wooldridge et al. Animal-Borne Viruses of Relevance to the Food Industry. ILSI Europe Report Series 2009:1-60.

T. Humphrey, S. O’Brien, M. Madsen. Campylobacters as Zoonotic Pathogens: A Food Production Perspective. International Journal of Food Microbiology 2007;117(3):237-257. Also published in the ILSI Europe Report Series 2006:1-44.

D. Dawson. Foodborne Protozoan Parasites. International Journal of Food Microbiology 2005;103(2):207-227.

G. Gould, P. Franken, P. Hammer, B. Mackey, F. Shanahan. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and the food chain. Food Protection Trends 2005;25(4):268-297. Also published in the ILSI Europe Report Series 2004:1-31.

M. Koopmans and E. Duizer.Foodborne Viruses: An Emerging Problem. International Journal of Food Microbiology 2004;90(1):23-41. Also published in the ILSI Europe Report Series 2002:1-31

P. Brown. Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy as a Zoonotic Disease. ILSI Europe Report Series 2003:1-48.

D. Dawson. Foodborne Protozoan Parasites. ILSI Europe Report Series 2003:1-39.

C. Bell. Approach to the Control of Entero-heamorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). International Journal of Food Microbiology 2002;78(1):197-216. Also published in the ILSI Europe Report Series 2001:1-35.

T. Humphrey. Salmonella Typhimurium Definitive Type (DT) 104 - A Multi-resistant Salmonella. International Journal of Food Microbiology 2001;67(3):173-186. Also published in the ILSI Europe Report Series 2000:1-24.

To download the ILSI Europe Microbiology Programme Flyer, click here.

Todownload the poster of the task force, please click here.

For more information, please contact info@ilsieurope.be