Closing gaps for performing a risk assessment on Listeria monocytogenes in ready‐to‐eat (RTE) foods: activity 2, a quantitative risk characterization on L. monocytogenes in RTE foods; starting from the retail stage

Abstract

A quantitative risk characterization of Listeria monocytogenes in various ready-to-eat (RTE) food categories (heat-treated meat; smoked and gravad fish; and soft and semi-soft cheeses) in the European Union (EU) was performed; starting from the retail stage. For prevalence and concentration, data from the EU-wide baseline survey was complemented with EU monitoring data and data from other sources. Food serving size and the number of servings per year were estimated from the European food consumption database. Demographical data from Eurostat were also used. Growth of L. monocytogenes considering interaction with lactic acid bacteria was modelled from retail to consumption using temperature-time profiles during transport and storage. This information was combined with the Pouillot dose-response models to estimate the number of listeriosis cases per 10 6 servings as well as the annual number of listeriosis cases in the EU associated with the consumption of the RTE foods. The total number of cases was estimated as 2,318 (95 confidence interval (CI): 1,450-3,612). Cooked meat and sausage presented most cases (median of 863 and 541, respectively). Sliced pâté packaged in normal atmosphere presented the highest listeriosis risk per million servings. With respect to the estimation of the total number of cases per population group, considering each food subcategory separately, the higher risk population group corresponded to elderly, followed, in most cases, by pregnant and healthy, with the exceptions of cooked meat and hot smoked fish in which pregnant presented higher risk than elderly. In the light of results, it seems necessary that educative programs and specific recommendations are specially oriented the most susceptible population groups so as to mitigate the risk. Uncertainty sources for some variables such as initial MAY prevalence should be further elucidated as well as variability in Listeria growth when types of product and populations are compared.

Listeria monocytogenes contamination of ready‐to‐eat foods and the risk for human health in the EU

“…According to Pérez‐Rodríguez et al. (), the uncertainty range in the estimates, here mostly reflecting variability, is important to consider when types of product and populations are compared. In some cases, the 95% interval ranged more than one order of magnitude (e.g.…”

Guidance on the requirements for the development of microbiological criteria

“…monocytogenes was derived for 14 age/gender groups, while Pérez‐Rodríguez et al. () considered three groups, >65 years old, pregnant women and <65 years old.…”

Stakeholder meeting on the draft scientific opinion on Listeria monocytogenes contamination of ready‐to‐eat foods and the risk for human health in the EU

“…The overall objective was to provide EFSA with a quantitative risk characterisation of L. monocytogenes in various RTE food categories in the EU, starting from the retail stage. A report was published as the outcome of this activity (Pérez-Rodríguez et al, 2017).…”

“…Factors considered as likely as not (33-66%) to increase human invasive starting from the retail stage. A report was published as the outcome of this activity (Pérez-Rodríguez et al, 2017 (Møller Nielsen et al, 2017). The overall objective was to compare L. monocytogenes isolates collected in the EU from RTE foods, compartments along the food chain and humans using WGS analysis.…”