News
Oct 10, 2019 - Foods
Listeria monocytogenes in food establishments
Summary of Current Incidents
After two deaths and 37 illnesses in Germany caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, a worldwide recall of products from the company Wilke Waldecker Fleisch- und Wurstwaren GmbH is underway. In addition to sausage products, pizzas are also affected. The Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety has published a list of affected products.
Following last week's closure, the company has now filed for insolvency (Source: www.bav-institut.de, www.bav-institut.de)
In the Netherlands, listeria cases in sausage products were also reported, with 3 fatalities. The Dutch authorities have temporarily closed the food business.
(Source: www.bav-institut.de)
In France, a cheese manufacturer recalled raw milk cheese due to the suspicion of Listeria monocytogenes. (Source: www.merkur.de)
In Spain, there was a listeriosis outbreak this summer. According to authorities, at least four people died and 216 were infected. Seven pregnant women lost their unborn babies. In early 2018, there were six deaths from a listeria outbreak in several European countries linked to frozen corn (Source: www.bav-institut.de).
In this context, the ALTS has also dealt with Listeria monocytogenes in frozen vegetables.
ALTS Resolution on the Food Safety Criterion Listeria monocytogenes in Frozen Vegetables
Due to the EU-wide outbreak of infections with Listeria monocytogenes with several fatalities from the year 2018 (Source: www.efsa.europa.eu) the ALTS (Working Group of Experts in Food Hygiene and Foods of Animal Origin) dealt with important questions on this at its 83rd working meeting. More information on the ALTS resolution can be found in our announcement of 09.10.2019.
What is the significance of Listeria monocytogenes in food?
In our factsheet, you can learn more about the importance, origin, and potential sources of contamination of Listeria monocytogenes in food.
Requirements of the Zoonosis Regulation for Food Business Operators
The Zoonosis Regulation came into force in 2007, but its contents are still not widely known among many food businesses. As a result, the implementation of the regulation is progressing slowly.
Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be transmitted from bacteria, parasites, fungi, prions, or viruses between animals and humans (see also www.bfr.bund.de).
Some of the most important bacterial zoonotic agents in food include:
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
- Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC/VTEC/EHEC)
- Yersinia enterocolitica
The most important requirements for food businesses from the Zoonosis Regulation are contained in § 3:
- setting aside samples of microbiological self-controls of food and keeping them appropriately until the results are available
- informing the competent authority in case of detection of zoonotic agents in food
- producing corresponding isolates in case of detection of zoonotic agents
- keeping both reserved samples and isolates for up to three months appropriately
- presenting and handing over reserved samples and isolates to the competent authority upon request
- section 3 of § 3 of the Zoonosis Regulation states that such a notification to the authority may not be used for legal administrative offense or criminal proceedings against the food business operator
The Food Surveillance publishes an annual Zoonosis Monitoring Report.
To meet the requirements of the Zoonosis Regulation, BAV automatically offers the following services to all customers free of charge:
- reserved samples of food samples are prepared
- positive findings of zoonotic agents in foods are stored for three months
- isolates of positive findings of zoonotic agents in foods are stored for three months
Listeria Monitoring in Food Establishments - Information on Conducting Environmental Investigations on Listeria monocytogenes
Since listeria are microorganisms that are widespread in our environment, persist in biofilms, and can multiply in food even under unfavorable environmental conditions, these bacteria are regularly detectable in relatively many food groups, such as meat and meat products (BfR, 2017). If the legal food safety criteria for Listeria monocytogenes as per Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for food are exceeded, products available in the market must be recalled. Numerous examples of this can be accessed publicly through the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) (European Union, 2018).
Food business operators who may have products contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes due to the characteristics of their products are obliged by EU hygiene law (Article 4 Paragraph 3 of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on food in conjunction with the criteria from Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for food), as well as for due diligence reasons, to conduct appropriate self-controls.
These obligations, however, relate not only to the performance of food examinations but also to the conduct of environmental investigations. Article 5 Paragraph 2 of Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for food states: "...food business operators producing ready-to-eat food, which may pose a risk to public health due to Listeria monocytogenes, should analyze samples from the processing areas and equipment for Listeria monocytogenes as part of their sampling plan…“
As there are no specific legal requirements regarding the extent of an environmental monitoring on Listeria monocytogenes, guidelines or recommendations can be referred to. The "Good Practice Guide for Conducting Microbiological Self-Checks in the Production of Ready-to-Eat, Pre-Cut Fruit and Vegetable Products in Retail" recommends an annual environmental investigation on Listeria monocytogenes on one cleaned and disinfected location per year (BLL, 2016). Other German hygiene guidelines do not currently include specifications for the scope of environmental monitoring on Listeria monocytogenes.
When conducting this listeria environmental monitoring and interpreting the results, the following aspects have been considered:
- Listeria monocytogenes are bacteria that are widespread in our environment and therefore regularly occur in many raw animal and plant foods (BfR, 2017; BfR 2018). These bacteria regularly appear in food businesses, as they enter through raw materials and people
- The goal of a food business should be to prevent permanent colonization with Listeria monocytogenes within the company. These locations include particularly damp areas that are not regularly cleaned and disinfected or not fully reached during cleaning and disinfection, such as areas by drains and evaporators or evaporator trays of cooling systems
- Individual positive findings of Listeria monocytogenes are practically unavoidable in many food businesses working with non-prepackaged raw animal and/or plant foods. The crucial goal is to prevent permanent colonization or biofilm formation with Listeria monocytogenes through hygiene measures
- In an environmental investigation on Listeria monocytogenes in food establishments, it is therefore sensible to determine the following: how often Listeria monocytogenes is found in the environment, where it is found, and how successful the cleaning and disinfection measures are. Therefore, investigations during ongoing operation as well as after cleaning and disinfection are beneficial. However, investigations during ongoing operation should predominate
- Depending on the sampling location, it may be sensible to use sponges or swabs during sampling. For larger surfaces, sponges are preferred to sample areas of 300cm², for instance. For hard-to-reach places with, for example, crevices, it is necessary to use swabs
- The laboratory tests must be performed with suitable qualitative methods after enrichment to achieve high sensitivity and to detect the lowest germ contents
Literature
- Bund für Lebensmittelrecht e.V. (BLL) / Bundesverband des Deutschen Lebensmittelhandels e.V.: Good Practice Guide for Conducting Microbiological Self-Checks in the Production of Ready-to-Eat, Pre-Cut Fruit and Vegetable Products in Retail (12/2016), last accessed: 02.10.2018 (BLL, 2016)
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): Zoonosis Reporting by the BfR. Pathogens of Zoonoses in Germany in 2015, last accessed: 01.10.2018 (BfR, 2017)
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): Press Release by the BfR from 27.09.2018. Listeriosis: Rare, but Dangerous for the Elderly, Pregnant Women, and Individuals with Weakened Immune Systems, last accessed: 01.10.2018 (BfR, 2018)
- European Union: RASSF Annual Report 2017, last accessed: 02.10.2018 (European Union, 2018)
- Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 of the Commission of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of food products (OJ L 139 of 30.04.2004, p. 1) in its current version
- Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 of the Commission of 15 November 2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs (OJ L 338 of 22.12.2005, p. 1) in its current version
Examinations for Listeria monocytogenes at BAV Institute
In our laboratory, we regularly perform tests for Listeria monocytogenes. In 2018, we conducted over 60,000 examinations for these pathogens. We have both a 24-hour rapid method, a 48-hour rapid method, and the ISO method in the accredited area in use in our laboratory. We provide fast and reliable results.
Our customer advisors are happy to assist with any questions you may have.