Microbiological risk assessment of viruses in foods: part 2: prevention and intervention measures: meeting report

Overview

In response to a request from the 53rd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) convened a meeting to review recent scientific developments, data, and evidence associated with foodborne viruses, specifically for prevention and intervention measures and the efficacy of interventions in the food systems continuum. 

Since that initial expert meeting report from 2008, awareness of the public health importance of these foodborne virus-commodity combinations has increased, resulting in additions or changes to some food supply chain management strategies and research initiatives. Prevention remains the cornerstone of control of foodborne viruses. This is because these viruses are environmentally persistent and resistant to many treatments commonly used to inactivate foodborne pathogens. Effective inactivation methods continue to be needed and are continuously being evaluated.

Based on the above situation, the Expert Committee: 1) reviewed the relevant scientific literature; 2) deliberated on the developments that have occurred in control of foodborne viruses in the relevant food supply chains since the 2008 JEMRA report; and 3) identified the most promising approaches to further protect the food supply chain from virus contamination.