NZ strategy for the reduction of foodborne

campylobacteriosisPeter van der Logt, Science Group

Background

• NZFSA’s mission

– To protect consumers

– To enhance NZ’s position as a trusted supplier of food

• High rates of campylobacteriosis in NZ reflect an unacceptable health burden

• Raw poultry is considered to be a primary exposure pathway

• Risk management strategy required

Objectives

• To reduce the incidence of foodborne human campylobacteriosis

• To improve knowledge of food attribution

• To understand the relative value of different interventions throughout the food chain in reducing risks to human health

Objectives (continued)

• To make informed risk management decisions on appropriate control measures and their implementation

• To design and implement an ongoing monitoring and review programme to assess the effectiveness of risk management decisions

Work streams of the strategy

• Development and implementation of

– Monitoring and surveillance activities

– Hazard based controls

– Risk based controls

• Communication

• International collaboration

• Other stakeholders

Monitoring throughout the food chain

• Caecal sampling of all cuts at slaughter, NMD information on farms

• Carcass rinses (2/day at large premises), NMD information on processing plants

Surveillance of foodborne illness

• Received report on Acute Gastrointestinal Illness (AGI) study from ESR

• Enhanced surveillance of potentially foodborne enteric diseases in NZ (Massey University and MidCentral Health, 2006-2008)

• Relative contribution of food pathways to the burden of human campylobacteriosis (NZFSA funded Massey University PhD student 2005-2009)

• Commissioned MLST geographic comparison study

Hazard based controls

• Draft report on transfer rates received from ESR

• On-farm survey (ESR) results expected soon

• Domestic freezing (ESR)

– Received report on temperature profiles

– Received preliminary results of domestic freezing experiment

– Planning more experiments

Hazard based controls

• Various decontamination trials carried out by industry

• Leak proof packaging

• Hazard based control paper in preparation

– Identifies options (and limitations) for controls

– ‘Living document’

Risk based controls

• Campylobacter in poultry model by ESR

• Successful, with Ministry for the Environment, in acquiring grant from Cross Departmental Research Pool

– To evaluate the role of the environment and relative contribution of various foods

– Collaboration between NIWA, ESR, EpiCentre, MfE and NZFSA

International Collaboration (Codex)

• New Zealand and Sweden leading the development of a new international Code of Hygienic Practice for Salmonella and Campylobacter in Young Chickens (Broilers) and Chicken Meat.

• About 30 countries and international organisations have volunteered to be part of the working group

• First meeting June 2007 in Uppsala, Sweden, to work out a plan of attack for development of the Code.

International Collaboration Med-Vet-Net

• Med-Vet-Net Workpackage 24

• Comparison of Campylobacter risk assessment models: Towards a European consensus model?

• Presentation at Med-Vet-Net workshop in Copenhagen January 2007

Communication/collaboration with stakeholders

• Media (TV, radio, press)

• NZFSA consumers’ forum

• PIANZ & members of industry

• Meat retailers

• World Poultry Science Association (NZ branch)

• Growers

• NZFSA Academy

Concluding comments

• Serious problem with no easy solution

• Many projects currently in progress

• Multi-pronged approach