Information from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) on the health assessment of vibrios
Apr 24, 2024 - Foods
Information from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) on the health assessment of vibrios
Vibrios are environmental germs distributed worldwide, mainly occurring in marine waters and estuaries. Consequently, marine animals, fish, and fish products ("seafood") are predominantly contaminated bacterially, among others, with vibrios. If these foods are consumed raw or inadequately heated before consumption, the vibrios contained in them can cause diarrheal diseases in humans.
In particular, mussels and oysters, which obtain food by filtering seawater, can contain higher concentrations of vibrios. Most commercial products are usually either heated or treated by other methods (e.g., marinating, smoking, drying, salting), which significantly reduce the germ load in the food. The consumption of live oysters can pose a health risk to immunocompromised individuals or people with pre-existing conditions, especially if these foods are contaminated with toxigenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus or Vibrio vulnificus.
Since 2020, there has been a reporting obligation in Germany to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI); diseases caused by vibrios prior to this time are therefore not statistically recorded. The risk of health impairment is currently considered to be low. From the BfR's perspective, global rising seawater temperatures could lead to an increased spread of vibrios and thus also to an increase in such foodborne infections.
The BfR advises paying attention to adequate heating when preparing seafood dishes. Vibrios are safely killed when heated to at least 70°C for two minutes inside the food. Additionally, following general hygiene rules during the storage and preparation of food ("kitchen hygiene") can make a significant contribution to protection against foodborne infections.
In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly conduct testing for Vibrios / Vibrio spp. (Vibrio cholerae / Vibrio parahaemolyticus / Vibrio vulnificus). We provide you with quick and reliable results.
For questions, our customer advisors are very happy to assist you.
Sources:
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
Questions and answers on Vibrios
- Robert Koch Institute (RKI)