Consumer trends, ethylene oxide and the risks posed by illegally imported meat were among the many issues discussed by the Dutch network focused on emerging food safety risks.
In order to identify new food safety risks from bacteria, viruses and chemicals as soon as possible so that measures can be taken to protect human health, a group was established in 2020 following a report by the Dutch Safety Committee. It has a microbiology section chaired by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and a chemical risk section headed by Wageningen Food Safety Research.
Each section had four sessions in 2021, during which 73 signals were discussed. For nine of these, experts concluded that action was needed or that additional research was needed. For the rest, they decided that there was no increased risk or that the matter was already known.
If further investigation or action is required in response to the signal, it will be forwarded to a team with representatives from the Ministry of Health, Social Care and Sport; the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) and the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). In 2021, the microbial department sent one signal and chemical experts sent eight for further analysis. Issues that have been escalated are not included in the annual report.
Examples of risks discussed. One of the topics discussed in the microbial group was the gaps in the EU control program for food-borne parasites such as Echinococcus multicolaris, Toxoplasma gondii, E. granulosis, Trichinella and Cryptosporidium.
Another was minimal processing, such as less salt or fat or more clean food, and modified cooking techniques such as sous vide or slow cooking. Members also talked about the risk of infection in humans, as pets are increasingly fed raw meat, and rat meat is also sold.
Home food preparation during the COVID-19 quarantine period and online sales were assessed as low risk, as home cooking was common in the country before the pandemic, and such trends may decrease once restrictions are lifted.
Experts said more information is needed about food-borne group B streptococcus after a 2015 outbreak linked to freshwater fish and the risk of infectious diseases spreading through illegally imported meat. The extent of the illegal meat trade was unclear, as it was not certain which animals were involved and what the level of consumption was.
The link between urinary tract infections with Staphylococcus saprophyticus, the pork chain and the extent of potential problems in the Netherlands was also uncertain.
No additional action was required for findings of E. coli O26 in ground meat and meat preparations, products treated with ethylene oxide, a cluster of four listeria infections in 2020 linked to fish, and a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to poultry products from Poland.
The chemicals section covered dietary supplements with medical claims, CBD oil with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bromodioxin in eggs, the impact of climate change on mycotoxins, recycled plastic as a food contact material, potential food fraud due to the impact of COVID-19, and wild mushrooms.
The two groups will meet quarterly in 2022, and signals will be closed, escalated or monitored, and new topics will be discussed.
Meanwhile, Wageningen University and Research welcomed the publication of the national action plan on zoonoses.
The action plan was presented by the Ministries of Agriculture, Nature and Food Safety and Public Health, Social Affairs and Sports (VWS). Its purpose is to guide and strengthen the national policy on zoonoses to minimize the risk of the occurrence and spread of zoonoses, and the future research agenda to contribute to preparedness for potential outbreaks.
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