Scientific Opinion on the risk posed by pathogens in food of non‐animal origin. Part 2 (Salmonella, Yersinia, Shigella and Norovirus in bulb and stem vegetables, and carrots)

Prevalence, serotype, antimicrobial susceptibility, contamination factors, and control methods of Salmonella spp. in retail fresh fruits and vegetables: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This research presents a comprehensive review of Salmonella presence in retail fresh fruits and vegetables from 2010 to 2023, utilizing data from recognized sources such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The study incorporates a meta-analysis of prevalence, serovar distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility, and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Additionally, it scrutinizes the heterogeneous sources across various food categories and geographical regions The findings show a pooled prevalence of 2.90% (95% CI: 0.0180-0.0430), with an increase from 4.63% in 2010 to 5.32% in 2022. Dominant serovars include S. Typhimurium (29.14%, 95% CI: 0.0202-0.6571) and S. Enteritidis (21.06%, 95% CI: 0.0181-0.4872). High resistance rates were noted for antimicrobials like erythromycin (60.70%, 95% CI: 0.0000-1.0000) and amoxicillin (39.92%, 95% CI: 0.0589-0.8020). The most prevalent ARGs were blaTEM (80.23%, 95% CI: 0.5736-0.9692) and parC mutation (66.67%, 95% CI: 0.3213-0.9429). Factors such as pH, water activity, and nutrient content, along with external factors like the quality of irrigation water and prevailing climatic conditions, have significant implications on Salmonella contamination. Nonthermal sterilization technologies, encompassing chlorine dioxide, ozone, and ultraviolet light, are emphasized as efficacious measures to control Salmonella. This review stresses the imperative need to bolster prevention strategies and control measures against Salmonella in retail fresh fruits and vegetables to alleviate related food safety risks.

The European Union One Health 2022 Zoonoses Report

This report by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control presents the results of the zoonoses monitoring and surveillance activities carried out in 2022 in 27 Member States (MSs), the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) and 11 non-MSs. Key statistics on zoonoses and zoonotic agents in humans, food, animals and feed are provided and interpreted historically. In 2022, the first and second most reported zoonoses in humans were campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis, respectively. The number of cases of campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis remained stable in comparison with 2021. Nineteen MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) achieved all the established targets in poultry populations for the reduction of Salmonella prevalence for the relevant serovars. Salmonella samples from carcases of various animal species, and samples for Campylobacter quantification from broiler carcases, were more frequently positive when performed by the competent authorities than when own checks were conducted. Yersiniosis was the third most reported zoonosis in humans, followed by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Listeria monocytogenes infections. L. monocytogenes and West Nile virus infections were the most severe zoonotic diseases, with the most hospitalisations and highest case fatality rates. In 2022, reporting showed an increase of more than 600% compared with 2021 in locally acquired cases of human West Nile virus infection, which is a mosquito-borne disease. In the EU, the number of reported foodborne outbreaks and cases, hospitalisations and deaths was higher in 2022 than in 2021. The number of deaths from outbreaks was the highest ever reported in the EU in the last 10 years, mainly caused by L. monocytogenes and to a lesser degree by Salmonella. Salmonella and in particular S. Enteritidis remained the most frequently reported causative agent for foodborne outbreaks. Norovirus (and other calicivirus) was the agent associated with the highest number of outbreak human cases. This report also provides updates on brucellosis, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), echinococcosis, rabies, toxoplasmosis, trichinellosis, infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (focusing on Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium caprae) and tularaemia.

Role played by the environment in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the food chain

The role of food-producing environments in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in EU plant-based food production, terrestrial animals (poultry, cattle and pigs) and aquaculture was assessed. Among the various sources and transmission routes identified, fertilisers of faecal origin, irrigation and surface water for plant-based food and water for aquaculture were considered of major importance. For terrestrial animal production, potential sources consist of feed, humans, water, air/dust, soil, wildlife, rodents, arthropods and equipment. Among those, evidence was found for introduction with feed and humans, for the other sources, the importance could not be assessed. Several ARB of highest priority for public health, such as carbapenem or extended-spectrum cephalosporin and/or fluoroquinolone-resistant Enterobacterales (including Salmonella enterica), fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter spp., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium and E. faecalis were identified. Among highest priority ARGs bla CTX -M, bla VIM, bla NDM, bla OXA -48-like, bla OXA -23, mcr, armA, vanA, cfr and optrA were reported. These highest priority bacteria and genes were identified in different sources, at primary and post-harvest level, particularly faeces/manure, soil and water. For all sectors, reducing the occurrence of faecal microbial contamination of fertilisers, water, feed and the production environment and minimising persistence/recycling of ARB within animal production facilities is a priority. Proper implementation of good hygiene practices, biosecurity and food safety management systems is very important. Potential AMR-specific interventions are in the early stages of development. Many data gaps relating to sources and relevance of transmission routes, diversity of ARB and ARGs, effectiveness of mitigation measures were identified. Representative epidemiological and attribution studies on AMR and its effective control in food production environments at EU level, linked to One Health and environmental initiatives, are urgently required.

Pathogenic Escherichia coli and enteric viruses in biosolids and related top soil improvers in Italy

AIMS

To investigate the presence of genomic traits associated with a set of enteric viruses as well as pathogenic Escherichia coli in top soil improvers (TSI) from Italy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-four TSI samples originating from municipal sewage sludges, pig manure, green and household wastes were analysed by real time PCR for the presence of hepatitis E virus (HEV), porcine and human adenovirus (HuAdV), norovirus, rotavirus and diarrhoeagenic E. coli. None of the samples was found positive for HEV or rotavirus. Four samples were positive for the presence of nucleic acids from human norovirus, two of them being also positive for HuAdV. Real time PCR screening gave positive results for many of the virulence genes characteristic of diarrhoeagenic E. coli in 21 samples. These included the verocytotoxin-coding genes, in some cases associated with intimin-coding gene, and markers of enteroaggregative, enterotoxigenic and enteroinvasive E. coli.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide evidence that enteric viruses and pathogenic E. coli may be released into the environment through the use of sludge-derived TSI.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The results highlight that the TSI-related environmental risk for the food chain should be more deeply assessed.

Occurrence of emerging food-borne pathogenic Arcobacter spp. isolated from pre-cut (ready-to-eat) vegetables

Given that changes in consumer food behaviours have led to an increase in the demand for pre-cut ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetables, and that few data are currently available on the occurrence of Arcobacter spp. in such foods, the aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence of Arcobacter spp. that carry virulence-associated genes on pre-cut RTE vegetables, using cultural and molecular methods. Arcobacter was detected using biomolecular identification methods in 44/160 (27.5%) of the samples, of which 40/44 (90.9%) isolates corresponded to A. butzleri and 4/44 (9.1%) to A. cryaerophilus. Studying the incidence of 9 virulence-associated genes revealed the widespread distribution of these genes among the Arcobacter isolates tested. The results obtained in our research provided plenty of information on the health risks associated with the direct consumption of raw vegetables, and highlight the need to implement further studies at each level of the production chain, in order to obtain further information to help protect human health.