Prevention and control of microbiological hazards in fresh fruits and vegetables – Part 1 & 2: General principles. Meeting report

Prevention and control of microbiological hazards in fresh fruits and vegetables – Part 1 & 2: General principles. Meeting report
Author: World Health Organization
Publisher: World Health Organization
Total Pages: 154
Release: 2024-01-10
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9240082085

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet and are protective against many chronic health conditions. Yet, fresh fruits and vegetables have been consistently implicated in food safety incidents involving microbiological hazards around the globe for decades. In response to requests of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene concerning microbiological hazards in fresh fruits and vegetables and to update and expand the information available in Microbiological hazards in fresh leafy vegetables and herbs (MRA14), which was published in 2008, FAO and WHO convened a series of expert meetings in 2021 to 2022. The purpose of the meetings was to collect, review and discuss relevant measures to control microbiological hazards from primary production to point of sale in fresh, ready-to-eat (RTE) and minimally processed fruits and vegetables, including leafy vegetables. The experts made an effort to update and include any recent trends in commodity and pathogen pairing or pathogen occurrence and presence with a focus on emerging and neglected pathogens. The primary production in open fields was investigated by considering the location, adjacent land use, topography, and climate; prior land use; water; wildlife, animal and human intrusion; soil amendments; and harvest and packing. The experts also worked on: primary production in protected facilities; minimal processing; transport, distribution, and point of sale; and also the gaps in mitigation and interventions measures. The advice herein is useful for both risk assessors and risk managers, at national and international levels and those in the food industry working to control the relevant hazards in the fresh fruits and vegetables. the development of improved mitigation and intervention measures.

Prevention and control of microbiological hazards in fresh fruits and vegetables – Part 4: Specific commodities

Prevention and control of microbiological hazards in fresh fruits and vegetables – Part 4: Specific commodities
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 112
Release: 2023-09-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9251381011

In 2019, following a request from the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), the Codex Alimentarius Committee (CAC) approved new work at its 42nd Session on the development of guidelines for the control of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in leafy vegetables and in sprouts. The objective of the report was to evaluate commodity-specific interventions used at all stages of fresh fruit and vegetable production from primary production to post-harvest activities, transportation, point of sale and consumer use. Emphasis was placed on the identification and evaluation of interventions used throughout the world to reduce microbiological hazards of fresh fruits and vegetables that contribute to the risk of foodborne illnesses, taking into consideration their effectiveness, practicality and suitability. The expert committee addressed four subdivided commodity groups: 1) leafy vegetables and herbs, 2) berries and tropical fruits, 3) melons and tree fruits, and 4) seeded and root vegetables.

Measures for the control of Campylobacter spp. in chicken meat

Measures for the control of Campylobacter spp. in chicken meat
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2024-03-08
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 925138584X

To collate and assess the most recent scientific information relevant to the control of thermotolerant Campylobacter species in broiler production and chicken meat, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) convened a meeting in Rome, Italy in February 2023. The expert committee reviewed the available data on Campylobacter control including scientific literature published from 2008 to October 2022 and data submitted in response to a call for data for this meeting. The experts: 1) determined the quality and quantity of evidence of control measures for Campylobacter, 2) evaluated the impact of measures to control Campylobacter in the broiler production chain, 3) determined which hazard-based interventions pertained specifically to Campylobacter and which were general to the control of foodborne pathogens in the pre- and post-harvest broiler production chain, and 4) reviewed and recommended revisions to the Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Chicken Meat. This report describes the output of this expert meeting and the advice herein is useful for both risk assessors and risk managers, at national and international levels and those in the food industry working to control the hazard in poultry.

Measures for the control of non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. in poultry meat

Measures for the control of non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. in poultry meat
Author: World Health Organization
Publisher: World Health Organization
Total Pages: 144
Release: 2024-01-15
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9240078827

In response to a request from the 52nd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) convened this meeting, to collate and assess the most recent scientific information relating to the control of non-typhoidal (NT)-Salmonella spp. in chicken meat. The assessment included a review of the Codex Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Chicken Meat (CXG 78-2011). The Campylobacter will be reviewed by another meeting. The expert consultation noted that no single control measure was sufficiently effective in reducing either the prevalence or the level of contamination of broilers and poultry meat with NT-Salmonella spp. Instead, it was emphasized that control strategies based on multiple intervention steps would have the greatest impact on controlling NT-Salmonella spp. in the broiler production chain. This report describes the output of this expert meeting and the advice herein is useful for both risk assessors and risk managers, at national and international levels and those in the food industry working to control the hazard in poultry.

Procedural Manual

Procedural Manual
Author: Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission
Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2011
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

The Procedural Manual of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is intended to help Member Governments participate effectively in the work of the joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. The manual is particularly useful for national delegations attending Codex meetings and for international organizations attending as observers. It sets out the basic Rules of Procedure, procedures for the elaboration of Codex standards and related texts, basic definitions and guidelines for the operation of Codex committees. It also gives the membership of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Also published in French and Spanish.

Exposure Assessment of Microbiological Hazards in Food

Exposure Assessment of Microbiological Hazards in Food
Author: World Health Organization
Publisher: World Health Organization
Total Pages: 108
Release: 2008
Genre: Food
ISBN: 9241546891

The guidelines aim to provide a practical framework and approach for undertaking exposure assessment of microbiological hazards (bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and microbial toxins) in foods in the context of a risk assessment or as a stand-alone process.

FAO Guide to Ranking Food Safety Risks at the National Level

FAO Guide to Ranking Food Safety Risks at the National Level
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 124
Release: 2020-10-06
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9251332827

The objective of this guidance is to provide direction to decision-makers on how to start ranking the public health risk posed by foodborne hazards and/or foods in their countries. The primary focus is microbial and chemical hazards in foods, but the overall approach could be used for any hazard. This guidance was developed with a wide audience in mind, including but not limited to microbiologists, toxicologists, chemists, environmental health scientists, public health epidemiologists, risk analysts, risk managers, and policy makers. Political will and a strong commitment to modernize food safety are key to the successful development and implementation of any risk ranking effort at the country level.

Foodborne Disease Outbreaks

Foodborne Disease Outbreaks
Author: World Health Organization
Publisher: World Health Organization
Total Pages: 157
Release: 2008
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9241547227

"These guidelines have been written for public health practitioners, food and health inspectors, district and national medical officers, laboratory personnel and others who may undertake or participate in the investigation and control of foodborne disease outbreaks."--P. 4 of cover.

Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables

Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables
Author: Mohammed Wasim Siddiqui
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 402
Release: 2019-11-10
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0128165391

Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables: Technologies and Mechanisms for Safety Control covers conventional and emerging technologies in one single source to help industry professionals maintain and enhance nutritional and sensorial quality of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables from a quality and safety perspective. The book provides available literature on different approaches used in fresh-cut processing to ensure safety and quality. It discusses techniques with the aim of preserving quality and safety in sometimes unpredictable environments. Sanitizers, antioxidants, texturizers, natural additives, fortificants, probiotics, edible coatings, active and intelligent packaging are all presented. Both advantages and potential consequences are included to ensure microbial safety, shelf-life stability and preservation of organoleptic and nutritional quality. Industry researchers, professionals and students will all find this resource essential to understand the feasibility and operability of these techniques in modern-day processing to make informed choices. - Provides current information on microbial infection, quality preservation, and technology with in-depth discussions on safety mechanisms - Presents ways to avoid residue avoidance in packaging and preservation - Includes quality issues of microbial degradation and presents solutions for pre-harvest management