International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting
21 to 24 July 2019, United States
The ICMSF presented a session entitled “Campylobacter, Health Impact, Performance Objectives and Effectiveness of Sampling Plans” on 23 July 2019 at the IAFP Annual Meeting.
The session was sponsored by the IAFP Foundation.
The organisers were Jeffrey Farber, Leon Gorris, and Marcel Zwietering, with Leon also convening the session.
Presentations
Health Impact of Campylobacter: The Main Zoonotic Pathogen in Many Countries
Jeffrey Farber, University of Guelph, CRIFS, Department of Food Science
Establishing Performance Objectives throughout the Chicken Production Chain to Account for Control Measures
Leon Gorris, Food Safety Expert, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Effectiveness of a (More and More Stringent) Sampling Plan for Campylobacter
Marcel Zwietering, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Session recordings are available to registered attendees (access by registration ID) and to non-attendees for a fee on the IAFP 2019 website.
Abstract
Campylobacter is the zoonotic bacterium with the largest public health impact in many countries. Since the organism does not grow in the food chain, main points of control are in primary production, during slaughter and in the food preparation area. Absolute control is not possible at these stages, therefore balanced and targeted control measures should be implemented along the chain. The Codex/ICMSF approach of setting a food safety objective and linking it to performance objectives, process criteria, and microbiological criteria along the chain is instrumental in reaching a public health objective in a structured and flexible manner. Until recently, microbial criteria in chicken meat were not used, but since 2018 a process hygiene criterion has become mandatory in the European Union (EU). Notably, this is a dynamic criterion of which the stringency will increase in the next 7 years (m = 1000 CFU/g, n = 50, c = 20 from 1.1.2018 and with c = 15 from 1.1.2020 and c = 10 from 1.1.2025). In this symposium the health impact of Campylobacter and its epidemiology will be described, potential control along the food chain by making use of performance criteria will be exemplified and the effectiveness of the current and future sampling plans in the European Union (EU) will be discussed. The symposium is of relevance for governments, academia as well as for food industry.
Background information
Each year, the IAFP hosts an Annual Meeting, providing attendees with information on current and emerging food safety issues, the latest science, innovative solutions to new and recurring problems, and the opportunity to network with thousands of food safety professionals from around the globe. Held in various locations throughout North America, this meeting has grown over the years to become the leading food safety conference worldwide. IAFP 2019 was held at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
For more information about the event, visit the meeting website.