FAO/WHO call for data

From: BenEmbarek, Peter (FIIU) (Peter.BenEmbarek@fao.org)
Date: Thu Apr 13 2000 - 02:46:24 PDT

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    Dear colleagues,
    Your collaboration would be much appreciated. I have deleted content of A.
    and B. as it does not relate to the interest of this list. If Interested,
    you can find the complete call for data on the FAO web site at:
    http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/ECONOMIC/ESN/pagerisk/microca2.htm
    <http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/ECONOMIC/ESN/pagerisk/microca2.htm>
    Regards
    Peter.

    JOINT FAO/WHO ACTIVITIES ON RISK ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL HAZARDS IN
    FOODS
    April 2000
    SECOND REQUEST FOR DATA
    Background
    In mid February FAO and WHO issued a call for data relating to risk
    assessment of microbiological hazards in foods. This call for data was
    issued to support the activities of the joint FAO/WHO programme of work on
    risk assessment of microbiological hazards in foods which aims to provide
    expert microbiological risk assessment advice to FAO/WHO Member Countries
    and to the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
    Ad hoc drafting groups have been established to prepare papers on exposure
    assessment and hazard characterization of the following pathogen-commodity
    combinations;
    * Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods;
    * Salmonella spp. in broilers;
    * Salmonella Enteritidis in eggs.
    These papers will be presented to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation in
    July. In October 2000 the preliminary report of this expert consultation on
    risk assessment of microbiological hazards in foods should be available to
    Member Countries and the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH). The
    preliminary report will address exposure assessment and hazard
    characterization for the three above-mentioned pathogen-commodity
    combinations.
    The first progress meeting of these drafting groups was held in Rome from 3
    - 5 April 2000. During this meeting the drafting groups identified a number
    of key areas for which they require information in order to complete their
    work.
    The key data requirements identified by the drafting groups are outlined
    below.
    A. Hazard Characterization of Salmonella spp. in Broilers and eggs.
            -----deleted---------
    B. Exposure assessment of Salmonella spp. in Broilers
    -------deleted------
    C. Exposure Assessment of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods
    The drafting group on ready-to-eat foods are focussing their exposure
    assessment on the following foods.
    * cold smoked salmon (or other fish)
    * ice cream
    * semi-dry fermented meat
    * raw and pasteurised fluid milk
    * soft mold-ripened cheese
    * packaged, minimally processed vegetables
    The data requirements is requested for these foods where possible;
    1. Consumption data (meal size and frequency of eating) for nominated
    commodities:
                    by country
                    by region
                    by season
                    by age groups
                    e.g. less than 6 months, 6 months to 60 years, over 60
    years)
                    pregnant
                    immuno-compromised or other underlying illness
    2. Data on the prevalence/incidence of contamination with Listeria
    monocytogenes for the foods listed above.
    3. Labelling requirements including "use-by" or "don't consumer after"
    times (and recommended storage temperatures)
    4. Data characterising the chill chain
    5. Data characterising domestic/consumer handling (specifically
    temperature of home refrigerators and average storage times for foods
    consumed at home)
    6. Post-processing contamination: frequency of contamination with L.
    monocytogenes and load transferrred to the product
    REQUEST FOR DATA
    FAO and WHO are requesting governments, interested organizations, food
    producers/processors, academia, and individuals to submit any available data
    on the specific areas indicated above. This data may be published or
    unpublished. Reference should be made to related published studies, where
    applicable. Receipt of such information is very important in ensuring the
    success and the provision of expert advice on risk assessment of
    microbiological hazards in foods at the international level.
    Confidential and/or unpublished data
    FAO and WHO recognise that much of the data which is now required may be
    unpublished or of a confidential nature. With regard to unpublished data the
    copyright of the data remains with the author for subsequent publication by
    the owner as original material. Unpublished confidential studies that are
    submitted will be safeguarded in so far as it is possible to do so without
    compromising the work of the drafting groups. Specific issues relating to
    confidentiality should be discussed directly between the data owners and
    FAO/WHO. For these and other issues please contact FAO and WHO at the
    contacts provided below.
    Please submit your data (hard or electronic copies) to either of the
    following addresses, not later than 1 May 2000:
    Food Safety Programme
    Attention: Dr. Allan Hogue
    World Health Organization
    Avenue Appia 1211
    Geneva 27
    Switzerland
    Facsimile: +41 22 791 4204
    Telephone: +41 22 791 4807
    Email: hoguea@who.org <MAILTO: hoguea@who.org> or Food Quality and
    Standards Service
    Attention: Ms. Maria de Lourdes Costarrica
    Food and Nutrition Division
    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
    Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
    00100 Rome, Italy
    Telephone: + 39 06 5705 6060
    Facsimile: + 39 06 5705 4593
    Email: lourdes.costarrica@fao.org <mailto:lourdes.costarrica@fao.org>
    ----------

    Peter Karim Ben Embarek
    Fishery Industry Officer
    Fish Utilization and Marketing service (FIIU), Fisheries Department,
    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
    Via Delle Terme di Caracalla, 0100 Rome, Italy.
    Phone : +39 06 570 55034 Fax : +39 06 570 55188 E.mail:
    peter.benembarek@fao.org <mailto:peter.benembarek@fao.org>
    URL : http://www.fao.org/fi <http://www.fao.org/fi/>



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