Microbiological risk assessment of viruses in foods: part 1: food attribution, analytical methods and indicators: meeting report
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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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xiv, 126 p.
This meeting report presents the findings of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) convened in response to a request from the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene to review recent scientific evidence on foodborne viruses. The report examines viruses of major public health concern associated with foodborne transmission, including human norovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, rotavirus and other emerging viruses. It assesses available evidence on the frequency and severity of foodborne viral diseases, identifies virus–food commodity combinations of greatest public health relevance, and reviews data from surveillance systems, outbreak investigations, scientific literature and expert knowledge elicitation. The publication also evaluates analytical methods for the detection and quantification of foodborne viruses, including internationally standardized laboratory approaches, and reviews current knowledge on indicators of viral contamination. Particular attention is given to challenges in virus detection, interpretation of analytical results, infectivity assessment and implementation of testing methods across different settings. The report highlights important knowledge gaps, limitations in surveillance and source attribution, and the need for strengthened laboratory capacity and data sharing. Its conclusions are intended to support risk assessment, risk management and the ongoing revision of international guidance for the control of foodborne viruses and the reduction of their global public health burden.
This meeting report presents the findings of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) convened in response to a request from the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene to review recent scientific evidence on foodborne viruses. The report examines viruses of major public health concern associated with foodborne transmission, including human norovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, rotavirus and other emerging viruses. It assesses available evidence on the frequency and severity of foodborne viral diseases, identifies virus–food commodity combinations of greatest public health relevance, and reviews data from surveillance systems, outbreak investigations, scientific literature and expert knowledge elicitation. The publication also evaluates analytical methods for the detection and quantification of foodborne viruses, including internationally standardized laboratory approaches, and reviews current knowledge on indicators of viral contamination. Particular attention is given to challenges in virus detection, interpretation of analytical results, infectivity assessment and implementation of testing methods across different settings. The report highlights important knowledge gaps, limitations in surveillance and source attribution, and the need for strengthened laboratory capacity and data sharing. Its conclusions are intended to support risk assessment, risk management and the ongoing revision of international guidance for the control of foodborne viruses and the reduction of their global public health burden.