Expert elicitation-derived estimates of foodborne proportions of enteric illnesses

Report of a microbiological survey of foodborne pathogens in pre-packaged (bagged) fresh-cut ready-to-eat leafy salads.

This risk profile was commissioned to address the following risk management questions:
• What are the potential public health and food safety risks associated with the
emergence of Campylobacter ST 6964 in New Zealand?
• What are the significant data gaps which, if filled, would allow a more comprehensive
assessment of public health risks attributable to the emergence of Campylobacter ST
6964 and its associated antimicrobial resistance in New Zealand?

MPI Technical Paper No: 2016/10. MPI commissioned this review to provide an overview of good agricultural practice and good hygienic practice in the horticulture industry and supply chains in New Zealand.

This report describes the results of a microbiological survey to determine compliance with E. coli, Salmonella, and CPS microbiological limits as specified in the Food Standards Code.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that occasionally causes serious illness in immunocompromised individuals and unborn babies. It is estimated that one third of all humans have been exposed to T. gondii, but most instances of toxoplasmosis are mild or asymptomatic.

Growth and toxin production is best in the presence of oxygen but can grow anaerobically. It is not regarded as a good competitor with other bacteria. Infected food handlers are a significant cause of food poisonings.

This genus includes four species; S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. boydii and S. sonnei, which are able to cause bacillary dysentery. They are very similar to Escherichia coli and are serologically cross reactive, but have remained separate species for clinical reasons.

Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis are intracellular protozoan parasites that may produce gastrointestinal symptoms when ingested by humans. Up until 2002, C. parvum was named C. parvum genotype 2 (cattle genotype) and C. hominis was named C. parvum genotype 1 (the human genotype). They are now recognised as different species based on genetic distinctions.

An infrequent cause of disease in New Zealand, but has a high associated case fatality rate. It is a marine organism (grows in 6% NaCl) that can grow both in the presence and absence of air.

In New Zealand, cases of human illness and laboratory detection of either organism are notified to ESR and Y. enterocolitica is more commonly reported than Y. pseudotuberculosis. A seasonal pattern is apparent from the data, with more cases reported in the months of October, November and January (Pirie, 2008). A large proportion of cases are believed to be attributable to food. This datasheet focuses on Y. enterocolitica.

A marine Vibrio normally associated with food poisonings involving seafood consumption. It is a major cause of food poisoning in Asian countries. Certain strains (Kanagawa phenomenon-positive, KP+) are primarily involved with human disease.