S16 - Contamination of RTE Foods: Transfer and Risk: Listeria monocytogenes and Other Microorganisms

1:30 A Collaborative Risk Assessment of Listeria monocytogenes in RTE Processed Meat and Poultry Products Based on 8,000 Samples Collected From Four FoodNet Sites — Ann Draughon, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

2:00 Consumer-phase Listeria monocytogenes Risk Assessment in Deli Meats — Lee-Ann Jaykus, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA

2:30 Modelling Listeria monocytogenes Cross-Contamination in Retail Food — Fernando Perez-Rodríguez, Universidad de Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain

3:00 Break

3:30 Assessment of Microbial Contamination Transfer to Ready to Eat (RTE) Foods From Contamination Transfer Vectors — Debra Smith, Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, UK

4:00 Quantifying Recontamintaion Through Air, Biofilms and Cross-Contamination in the Kitchen — Esther van Asselt, RIVM, Bilthoven, Netherlands

4:30 Transfer of Listeria monocytogenes in Deli Meats Through Sliciing Machines and Conveyor Belts — Ewen C.D. Todd, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

Abstract

This symposium brings together some of the most recent research conducted within Europe and the US, some funded through the National Alliance for Food Safety and Security, and will provide new and updated information with regard to microbiological contamination and its transfer to ready-to-eat (RTE) foods for the development of appropriate risk assessment models. It will offer academic, industry and government food scientists with the opportunity to share experimental data and exchange experiences and expert opinion relating to microbial contamination transfer to RTE foods and the use of transfer data in risk assessments. The symposium will focus on Listeria contamination levels in RTE meat and poultry, the dissemination of microbial transfer rate data from food contact vectors (air, surfaces and liquids) to the food, the factors affecting these transfers and the use of this data in the development of models for use in risk assessments. The symposium will provide: Information on the quantification and likelihood of contamination transfer to selected RTE foods from selected food contact vectors; guidance on how to assess these factors within a RTE food production and handling environment; information that will allow RTE food producers and handlers to make informed decisions on the risk of contamination from different vectors and prioritization of their hygiene control measures; information on the availability of models to help quantify and determine the likelihood of microbial contamination transfer in general and allow RTE food producers and handlers to undertake microbial risk assessments of their own; and transfer rate data that could be used in the development of more complex microbiological risk assessment models. The work presented addresses areas pertinent to the IAFP with regard to microbiological food safety and quality and general and applied food protection for the future with respect to quality assurance and risk analysis.