Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of Listex™ P100 for the removal of Listeria monocytogenes surface contamination of raw fish

Abstract

Studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of Listex™ P100 to reduce Listeria monocytogenes contamination on raw fish were assessed. The material should not present human toxicological problems because the bacteriophage P100, used as active principle, is not regarded as harmful to consumers nor to organisms other than Listeria spp., and because the fabrication parameters do not include anything obvious that might compromise safety. Data of studies considered indicate that Listex™ P100 is listericidal on inoculated catfish and salmon samples, but do not allow definitive conclusions on efficacy in reducing L. monocytogenes counts on raw fish nor on its impact on L. monocytogenes contamination levels in finished product. It was not possible to estimate the potential listeriosis risk reduction by treating raw fish with Listex™ P100. The data were not adequate to allow firm conclusions on persistence or activity of P100 in stored fish. The proposed use of Listex™ P100 is unlikely to result in emergence of reduced susceptibility to biocides and/or resistance to key therapeutic antimicrobials: however, this conclusion may need verification. No information was provided on survival of P100 in processing wastewater or the environment, or on the potential accumulation of naturally P100 resistant L. monocytogenes variants. Pilot and industrial scale studies should consider parameters affecting decontaminating efficacy, and should verify that application on raw fish has an impact on reduction of L. monocytogenes contamination on the final product. The persistence or activity of P100 as well as potential changes in L. monocytogenes counts should be evaluated during fish storage. Tests to investigate potential development of resistance or reduced susceptibility to biocides and key therapeutic antimicrobials, following use of Listex™ P100, are recommended. The continuous effectiveness of Listex™ P100 against L. monocytogenes and the potential for selection and dominance of strains naturally‐resistant to P100 should be monitored.

wksl3, a New Biocontrol Agent for Salmonella enterica Serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium in Foods: Characterization, Application, Sequence Analysis, and Oral Acute Toxicity Study

“…Recently, P100 was listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute as an organic material classified as a processing nonagricultural ingredient and processing aid (http://www.omri.org/manufacturers/66440/ebi -food-safety-bv). The European Food Safety Authority also confirmed the safety of phage P100 as an antibacterial agent against Listeria monocytogenes on the surface of raw fish (17).…”

Don’t Shut the Stable Door after the Phage Has Bolted—The Importance of Bacteriophage Inactivation in Food Environments

“…Among their many advantages, the use of phages as biological disinfectants is highly advantageous compared to physical or chemical disinfectant measures due to their limited to none impact on sensory or quality parameters of the processed food [77,80,81]. Due to such direct-on-food intervention measures of phages, there are supposed to be stringent regulations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and other agencies, which qualify them for safe usage [22,82,83,84,85]. However, in reality phages are not only applied for direct-on-food intervention measures.…”