ACMSF consults on botulism in sheep and goats report
Tuesday 29 July 2008
The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) is seeking views on its draft report on botulism in sheep and goats.
Following the publication of the ACMSF report on Botulism in Cattle in December 2006, the Food Standards Agency sought ACMSF’s advice on the potential risk to human health from food chain issues linked to botulism or suspected botulism in sheep and goats. This followed 14 reported outbreaks of suspected botulism in sheep and 1 reported case of suspected botulism in a goat in the UK between 1999 and 2007.
ACMSF was asked to advise specially, whether the recommendation from the Botulism in Cattle report, that there should be no requirement to restrict milk and meat from healthy cattle from farms where there have been suspected cases of botulism, could also be applied to meat and milk from healthy sheep and goats on farms where there have been suspected cases of botulism.
The ACMSF Ad Hoc Group on Botulism in Cattle, Sheep and Goats considered information on the prevalence and reported outbreaks or incidents of suspected botulism in sheep and goats in the UK and other countries. It examined differences in animal husbandry practices, feeding habits and meat and milk production between the two species and in comparison with cattle.
The likelihood of active botulinum toxin being present in meat and milk was explored, and risk factors associated with the consumption of meat and milk (including raw milk and milk products) from sheep and goats, milk dilution factors, and composting and disposal of poultry litter were examined. The group also reviewed the susceptibility of humans to the botulinum toxin types C and D that are most frequently associated with botulism in animals.
The ACMSF will review its draft report in the light of any comments received, before publishing the final version of the report.
Responses to the consultation must be submitted by 20 October 2008.
This consultation is not accompanied by an impact assessment because the ACMSF has no regulatory status. It is for the Food Standards Agency to decide whether to accept the recommendations outlined in this report and whether to produce an impact assessment should the recommendations be accepted.