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28.05.2020 - Foods

All Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) subtypes are pathogenic

The pathogenicity assessment of "Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and the public health risk from food contamination with STEC" from 2013 was recently reviewed by EFSA. Based on the assessment, it was concluded that all STEC strains are pathogenic to humans, at least capable of causing diarrhea, and that all STEC subtypes can be associated with severe illness (defined as bloody diarrhea (BD), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and/or hospitalization).

Furthermore, EFSA suggests that "beef and its products," "milk and dairy products," "tap water including well water," and "vegetables, fruits, and their products" are the main sources of STEC infections in the EU/EEA, but a ranking between these categories cannot be made due to insufficient data.

The German Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (BLV) assesses these new conclusions in its risk assessment document Seismo Info 04/2020 as "very important" for Swiss food safety.

In addition to EFSA's pathogenicity report, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recently published two documents suggesting fresh vegetables, fruits, and flour as sources for STEC.

Although a variety of foods in Switzerland and the EU are classified as main sources of STEC infections, only certain subtypes of sprouts are regulated with "Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) O157, O26, O111, O103, O145, and O104: H4" with a limit of "not detectable in 25 g".

Whether the regulations will be adjusted is unclear in this state, but it is generally regulated that only safe foods are allowed to be marketed, placing the main responsibility on food producers and distributors.

Ready-to-eat foods are particularly associated with high risk. These are products that are not heated to +72°C for 2 minutes before consumption, such as raw dough, raw vegetables and fruits, salads, herbs, sprouts, raw meat, raw milk, raw cheese, and all products that can be contaminated with tap water and well water.

In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly conduct these investigations. We provide fast and reliable results.
For questions, our customer advisors are very happy to assist you.

Source: www.pressebox.com