Scientific Opinion on the risk posed by pathogens in food of non-animal origin. Part 2 (Salmonellain melons)

Abstract

Melons and watermelons are ready-to-eat foods, with an internal pH of 5.1 to 6.7 and can be consumed whole, as fresh-cut products or as fresh juices. Epidemiological data from the EU identified one salmonellosis outbreak associated with consumption of both pre-cut and whole melon between 2007 and 2012. Risk factors for melon and watermelon contamination by Salmonella were considered in the context of the whole food chain, together with available estimates of Salmonella occurrence and mitigation options relating to prevention of contamination and the relevance of microbiological criteria. It was concluded that each farm environment represents a unique combination of risk factors that can influence occurrence and persistence of Salmonella in melon and watermelon production. Appropriate implementation of food safety management systems including Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), should be primary objectives of producers. It is currently not possible to assess the suitability of an EU-wide E. coli Hygiene Criterion at primary production. The existing Process Hygiene Criterion for E. coli in pre-cut melons and watermelons aims to indicate the degree to which GAP, GHP, GMP or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) programmes have been implemented. There are Food Safety Criteria for the absence of Salmonella in 25g samples placed on the market during their shelf life of ready-to-eat pre-cut melon and watermelon and unpasteurised melon and watermelon juices. A Food Safety Criterion for Salmonella in whole melons and watermelons could be considered as a tool to communicate to producers and processors that Salmonella should not be present in the product. Since the occurrence of Salmonella is likely to be low, testing of whole melons or watermelons for this bacterium could be limited to instances where other factors indicate breaches in GAP, GHP, GMP or HACCP programmes. SUMMARYThe European Commission asked EFSA"s Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ Panel) to prepare a scientific Opinion on the public health risk posed by pathogens that may contaminate food of nonanimal origin (FoNAO). The outcomes of the first and second terms of reference, addressed in a previous Opinion, were discussed between risk assessors and risk managers in order to decide which food/pathogen combinations should be given priority for the other three terms of reference. This is the third Opinion out of five and addresses the risk from Salmonella in melons. The terms of reference are to: (i) identify the main risk factors for melons, including agricultural production systems, origin and further processing; (ii) recommend possible specific mitigation options and to assess their effectiveness and efficiency to reduce the risk for humans posed by Salmonella in melons and (iii) recommend, if considered relevant, microbiological criteria for Salmonella in melons.The term melon usually refers to members of the plant family Cucurbitaceae, which are edible, sweetfleshe...

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“…In the United Kingdom, supply chains for fresh fruit show seasonal variation, which may account for the sharp rise and tail of the outbreak. The European Food Safety Authority has identified a range of factors that increase the risk of contamination of melons with Salmonella , including contact with and proximity of agricultural production and processing systems to animal reservoirs, use of contaminated water in agricultural production, and contamination or cross-contamination during or after harvest [ 8 ]. Salmonella outbreaks previously linked to melon in recent years include a multi-European country Salmonella Braenderup outbreak in 2021 linked to consumption of imported galia melons [ 2 ], and a 2023 outbreak of Salmonella Sundsvall and Salmonella Oranienburg with high severity in the United States and Canada linked to cantaloupe-containing products [ 3 ].…”

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“…Figure 3. Genetic relatedness of S. Choleraesuis strains of plant[1] and animal origin[2] determined by PFGE with restriction enzyme XbaI, showing conserved and disparity bands. Cluster analysis of the resulting band pattern was performed using the Dice coefficient and UPGMA with band tolerance 0.8%.…”