Microbial contaminants Risks of bacteria, fungi, viruses Ralf Hartemink Wageningen University the Netherlands
The microbial world Viruses non-living, non-cellular organisms that require a host to grow Bacteria living, single-celled organisms Algae Parasites Fungi single or multi-celled organisms such as moulds, yeasts and mushrooms Protozoa
Microbes and food (bacteria, viruses, fungi) (bacteria, yeasts, fungi) Good Food fermentation Bad - Pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi) (bacteria, yeasts, fungi) Ugly - Spoilage (bacteria, fungi)
What you eat can make you sick “Everybody will get a foodborne illness twice per year”
Food poisoning or foodborne illness Foodborne intoxications Symptoms, after 0-4h nausea vomiting Duration 1 day Bacterial toxin Bacterium does not have to be in the product anymore ! Foodborne infections Symptoms, after 8-24h abdominal pain diarrhoea Duration 1-3 days Bacteria, virus Young Old Immuno-compromised Pregnant
Fungal toxins : Mycotoxins Hardly ever acute toxic carcinogenic kidney problems ... Potential serious health risks Most well known: Aflatoxin Zearalenon Ochratoxin Many not known ! Spread easily in food chain
Fungal toxins : Aflatoxin
Prevention : look at the chain Production Preparation Consumption Increasing/Decreasing risks Product characteristics Bacterial characteristics Risk Assessment of worst case scenario Legislation
New challenges and risks : the consumer Production Preparation Consumption Increasing/Decreasing risks Consumer demands New trends Natural / Organic Less processed Sustainable /packaging Less salt / sugar No additives ... Different and/or (mostly) higher risks Potentially more cases Research and legislation
New challenges and risks : globalisation Food safety standards, legislation : not harmonised Bacterial prevalence differs widely between regions
New challenges : the organism ‘new’ bacteria Listeria : unknown until 1980s Changed ‘old’ bacteria EHEC, STEC, EIEC... Emerging pathogens ‘new’ and more viruses astrovirus nipah virus Adapted bacteria bacteria in unexpected places
Thank you for your attention Ralf.hartemink@wur.nl US Campaign