Codex meeting on food hygiene receives update
An update of activities of the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA), the group that provides scientific advice on the safety assessment of micro-organisms in food, was on the agenda of the 52nd session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH). Delegates received a briefing on the microbiological risk assessment reports that are expected to be published in 2022:
- Listeria monocytogenes
- STEC in meat and dairy
- Water reuse in fisheries
- Water reuse in dairy
- Low moisture foods, and
- Spices.
In his presentation, Jeffrey LeJeune, FAO Food Safety Officer, also went over publications released in the last two years. For instance, Microbiological Risk Assessment – Guidance for food (MRA 36) was launched on World Food Safety Day (7 June 2021) and was supported with a 4-page brochure in and infographic to enhance the dissemination of scientific advice in six official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish).
Joint FAO/WHO expert meetings on microbiological risk assessment (JEMRA), he said, were convened on:
- control measures for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) associated with meat and dairy products in June 2020;
- Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) food in October 2020;
- safety and quality of water for fishery products and dairy products in June 2021, and
- the prevention and control of microbiological hazards in fresh fruits and vegetables in Sept 2021 (general principles) and November 2021 (sprouts).
Additionally, he noted, Ad hoc expert consultations on food allergens were held in December 2020, April 2021 and October 2021.
Future JEMRA work will include:
- Fresh fruit and vegetables on specific food commodities
- Salmonella and Campylobacter in poultry
- Risk assessment for Listeria monocytogenes
- Foodborne viruses and other new requests from CCFH.
CCFH concluded its 52nd session yesterday. Read more about: