Imported frozen raspberries cause a series of norovirus outbreaks in Denmark, 2005

Falkenhorst, Gerhard; Krusell, L.; Lisby, M.; Madsen, S B; Böttiger, Blenda; Mølbak, Kåre

doi:10.2807/esw.10.38.02795-en

Cited by 87 publications

(96 citation statements)

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“…Transmission of viruses associated with the consumption of contaminated bivalve shellfish, particularly, oysters which are eaten uncooked, is regularly reported (Koopmans and Duizer 2004;Widdowson et al 2005). Other foods, including raspberries (Cotterelle et al 2005;Le Guyader et al 2004;Gaulin et al 1999;Korsager et al 2005;Hedlund et al 2000;Falkenhorst et al 2005;Hjertqvist et al 2006;Fell et al 2007;Ponka et al 1999) and salads (Vivancos et al 2009), have caused outbreaks after being contaminated by polluted water or virus-infected food handlers. Polluted water, both drinking water and recreational water, have been shown to have transmitted viruses (Cannon et al 1991;Lawson et al 1991;Maunula et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analytical Methods for Virus Detection in Water and Food

et al. 2010

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Potential ways to address the issues that relate to the techniques for analyzing food and environmental samples for the presence of enteric viruses are discussed. It is not the authors' remit to produce or recommend standard or reference methods but to address specific issues in the analytical procedures. Foods of primary importance are bivalve molluscs, particularly, oysters, clams, and mussels; salad crops such as lettuce, green onions and other greens; and soft fruits such as raspberries and strawberries. All types of water, not only drinking water but also recreational water (fresh, marine, and swimming pool), river water (irrigation water), raw and treated sewage are potential vehicles for virus transmission. Well over 100 different enteric viruses could be food or water contaminants; however, with few exceptions, most well-characterized foodborne or waterborne viral outbreaks are restricted to hepatitis A virus (HAV) and calicivirus, essentially norovirus (NoV). Target viruses for analytical methods include, in addition to NoV and HAV, hepatitis E virus (HEV), enteroviruses (e.g., poliovirus), adenovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus, and any other relevant virus likely to be transmitted by food or water. A survey of the currently available methods for detection of viruses in food and environmental matrices was conducted, gathering information on protocols for extraction of viruses from various matrices and on the various specific detection techniques for each virus type.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analytical Methods for Virus Detection in Water and Food

et al. 2010

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“…Frozen raspberries have been linked to at least two outbreaks of HAV (Reid and Robinson 1987;Ramsay and Upton 1989) and two outbreaks of caliciviruses (Le Guyader et al 2004a;Falkenhorst et al 2005). In one of these outbreaks, the same batch of raspberries caused a series of sub-outbreaks in which multiple strains of NoV infected 1,100 people in Denmark during summer 2005 (Falkenhorst et al 2005). In 2003, caliciviruses were detected in different lots of Serbian frozen raspberries as reported in the EU Rapid Alert Systems for food and feed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Among the foodborne enteric viruses, noroviruses (NoVs) are the most common cause of illness (Koopmans and Duizer 2004), but other viruses such as hepatitis A and E virus (HAV and HEV), rotavirus, and enterovirus are implicated in foodborne outbreaks as well (Dalton et al 1996;Koff 1998;Matsumoto et al 1989;Svensson 2000;Tei et al 2003). Frozen raspberries have been linked to at least two outbreaks of HAV (Reid and Robinson 1987;Ramsay and Upton 1989) and two outbreaks of caliciviruses (Le Guyader et al 2004a;Falkenhorst et al 2005). In one of these outbreaks, the same batch of raspberries caused a series of sub-outbreaks in which multiple strains of NoV infected 1,100 people in Denmark during summer 2005 (Falkenhorst et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Methods for Extraction and Concentration of Enteric Viruses from Fresh Fruit and Vegetables: Towards International Standards

Croci

Dubois

Cook³

et al. 2008

Food Anal. Methods

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Virus-contaminated soft fruits or vegetables are increasingly identified as causes of foodborne viral illness. Noroviruses and hepatitis A virus are the most common pathogens in viral infections transmitted by these kinds of foods. To improve microbiological detection and monitoring and to increase insights into the contribution of fruits and vegetables to foodborne viral transmission, sensitive, reliable, and standardized methods are needed. More studies on virus detection methods for foods are being published, but validated consensus protocols are not yet available. In this paper, different methodologies are reviewed critically. The use of process controls and internal amplification controls is discussed.

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“…In several outbreaks, hundreds of people have become ill, and often this has occurred in different locations, e.g. the outbreak of gastroenteritis in Denmark in 2005 (Falkenhorst et al, 2005), which took place in two Danish cities, and the outbreak of hepatitis in the USA in 1997, in which several states were involved. This strongly indicates widespread contamination of a large amount of the original foodstuff batch, especially since viruses cannot replicate in foods.…”

Section: Occurrence In Fresh Producementioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Opinion on an update on the present knowledge on the occurrence and control of foodborne viruses

2011

EFS2

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A review of the biology, epidemiology, diagnosis and public health importance of foodborne viruses was performed. Data needs to support a risk assessment were also identified. In addition possible control options and their anticipated impact to prevent or reduce the number of foodborne viral human infections were identified, including the scientific reasons for and against the establishment of food safety criteria and process hygiene criteria for viruses for certain food categories. Food may be contaminated by virus during all stages of the food supply chain, and transmission can occur by consumption of food contaminated during the production process (primary production, or during further processing), or contaminated by infected food handlers. Transmission of zoonotic viruses (e.g. HEV) can also occur by consumption of products of animal origin. Viruses do not multiply in foods, but may persist for extended periods of time as infectious particles in the environment, or in foods. At the EU-level it is unknown how much viral disease can be attributed to foodborne spread. The relative contribution of different sources (shellfish, fresh produce, food handler including asymptomatic shedders, food handling environment) to foodborne illness has not been determined. The Panel recommends focusing controls on preventive measures to avoid viral contamination rather than trying to remove/inactivate these viruses from food. Also, it is recommended to introduce a microbiological criteria for viruses in bivalve molluscs, unless they are labelled "to be cooked before consumption". The criteria could be used by food business operators to validate their control options. Furthermore, it is recommended to refine the regulatory standards and monitoring approaches in order to improve public health protection. Introduction of virus microbiological criteria for classification of bivalve molluscs production areas should be considered. A virus monitoring programme for compliance with these criteria should be risk based according to the findings of a sanitary survey. KEY WORDSFood borne viruses, Norovirus, Hepatitis, Microbiological criteria, molluscs, fresh produce. SUMMARYThe European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) asked the Panel on Biological Hazards to initiate a self tasking issue with the purpose to provide up-to-date information on the present knowledge on the occurrence and control of foodborne viruses. The BIOHAZ Panel carried out a review of the available information in the scientific literature with regards to the biology, epidemiology, diagnosis and public health importance of foodborne viruses. Where possible the review covered primary production, food harvesting, food processing, and storage/retail until consumption. Data needs to support a risk assessment were also identified. In addition possible control options and their anticipated impact to prevent or reduce the number of foodborne viral human infections were identified including the scientific reasons for and against the establishment of microbiological criteri...

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Imported frozen raspberries cause a series of norovirus outbreaks in Denmark, 2005

Abstract: A total of six point source outbreaks of norovirus infection from June to September 2005 in Denmark have now been linked to frozen raspberries imported from Poland.

Cited by 87 publications

References 0 publications

Analytical Methods for Virus Detection in Water and Food

Analytical Methods for Virus Detection in Water and Food

Current Methods for Extraction and Concentration of Enteric Viruses from Fresh Fruit and Vegetables: Towards International Standards

Scientific Opinion on an update on the present knowledge on the occurrence and control of foodborne viruses

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