Applying an epidemiological approach to human salmonellosis source attribution.

Summary of a study that analysed New Zealand human salmonellosis surveillance data with the aim of determining the proportion of non-typhoid salmonellosis that can be attributed to specific foods, animal feeds, and other pathways.

A series of focus groups were run to examine aspects of the preparation of powdered infant formula. Participants in the focus groups were caregivers currently engaged in the preparation of infant formula. The three focus groups (two in Auckland, one in Christchurch) were made up of a total of 14 mothers, aged 20-41 years, with infants aged 1-11 months.

Report on the microbiological safety of fresh produce in New Zealand.

The risk of foodborne illness in New Zealand associated with non-typhoidal Salmonella in and on eggs.

Literature review of evidence around the aetiology of human campylobacteriosis in New Zealand, including evidence around foodbourne transmission.

In this study, Campylobacter notifications from 2001 to 2008 across three regions of New Zealand were analysed, and spatial and temporal trends were identified. Risk factors associated with these trends were investigated, and several relationships were observed.

In the five year period (2002 to 2006) reviewed, the annual notification rate for yersiniosis in New Zealand increased over the four years 2003 to 2006 but remained lower than it was in 2002. A number of District Health Boards (DHBs) (West Coast, South Canterbury, Capital and Coast) had consistently higher notification rates than the overall New Zealand notification rate. Children aged less than 5 years experienced the highest rates of yersiniosis and there was a small increase in the notification rate for the 60 years and over age group.

There is variability in the methods used by clinical laboratories in New Zealand to isolate and
identify the pathogens (Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp.,
Yersinia enterocolitica or Y. pseudotuberculosis, and verocytotoxigenic E. coli
(VTEC)/shigatoxin-producing E. coli (STEC)) being investigated in this study, but the
methods do not appear to have changed significantly over the last five years.

Literature review and assessment of the morbidity and mortality evidence associated with consumption of raw milk and raw milk cheese

Scientific Interpretive Summary

The significance in terms of introduction into food animal species and human health of Salmonella (non-typhoid) in animal feeds.

This risk profile concerns Campylobacter in offal (liver and kidney). In New Zealand, the prevalence of Campylobacter in offal in general is high. External contamination of poultry livers in one study was 100%, while internal contamination was 90%. Sheep liver has a contamination prevalence of approximately 38.9% to 66.9%. Bovine and porcine offals appear to be less commonly contaminated (<10%).

This organism causes the most commonly reported gastrointestinal disease in New Zealand. The two species Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli are most often associated with disease. It grows best in reduced oxygen atmospheres and only at temperatures
exceeding room temperature.

Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming bacterium that occurs naturally in many kinds of foods and can cause illness in humans. It can form spores that are resistant to heating and dehydration and can therefore survive cooking and dry storage.

Findings from a baseline survey of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria in selected New Zealand food animals, 2009-2010.