Transcript Link:Presentation of Ralf Hartemink

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
Fungi
single or multi-celled organisms such as
moulds, yeasts and mushrooms
Bacteria
living, single-celled
organisms
Algae
Parasites
2
Protozoa
Microbes and food
Good
Food fermentation
Bad - Pathogens
(bacteria, viruses, fungi)
(bacteria, yeasts, fungi)
Ugly - Spoilage
(bacteria, fungi)
3
What you eat can make you sick
“Everybody will get a foodborne illness twice per year”
Food poisoning or foodborne illness
Foodborne infections
Symptoms, after 8-24h
abdominal pain
diarrhoea
Duration 1-3 days
Foodborne intoxications
Symptoms, after 0-4h
nausea
vomiting
Duration 1 day
Bacteria, virus
Bacterial toxin
Bacterium does not have to
be in the product anymore !
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
Changed ‘old’
bacteria
Listeria :
unknown until
1980s
EHEC, STEC,
EIEC...
Emerging pathogens
‘new’ and
more viruses
Adapted
bacteria
astrovirus
nipah virus
bacteria in
unexpected
places
Thank you for
your attention
[email protected]
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