Survey of health and social care setting food businesses on implementation of the FSA Listeriosis Guidance
A survey of health and social care setting food businesses on implementation of the FSA Listeriosis Guidance
What are the impacts of foodborne pathogens and how can we reduce them?
Foodborne pathogens such as norovirus, Campylobacter, Listeria, Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause approximately 2.4 million cases of disease in the UK population and impose an annual cost to society equivalent to £9.1 billion every year.
The overarching aim of this Area of Research Interest (ARI) is to empower the FSA to make policy decisions about microbiological foodborne disease based on the best evidence available.
We also commission external research to develop and refine tools and approaches, for example the development or optimisation of diagnostic tests or quantitative models. Research requirements are identified via an internal programme steering group and are informed by issues raised by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food and the FSA’s Foodborne Disease Policy Framework. Research outputs are used to inform risk assessments and technical advice, to inform policy decisions and to evaluate the performance of changes to policy. #
Research projects related to the programme
Survival of SARS-CoV-2 on the surfaces of food and food packaging materials
A study to measure the rate of inactivation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the surface of various types of food and food packaging.
Feasibility study for in vitro analysis of infectious foodborne HEV.
The FSA finalised a comprehensive critical review on the approaches to assess the infectivity of the HEV virus which is published [3] recommending that a cell culture based method should be developed for use with food.
Assessment of the risk to consumers as a result of disruption to the cold chain during direct supply of Qurbani meat and offal - full report
A risk assessment on allowing meat and offal to be provided to consumers without the normal chilling process during Qurbani.
The third study of infectious intestinal disease in the UK (IID3)
This research project aims to estimate the burden and causes of infectious intestinal disease (IID) in the UK population.
Prioritising Foodborne Disease with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis
This study outlines the methodology and results of a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) used by the Food Standards Agency to rank thirteen foodborne pathogens in order of their detrimental effect on UK society.
The effects of consumer freezing of food on its use-by date
The current Food Standards Agency guidance states that consumers can freeze pre-packed food right up to the “use-by” date and, once food has been defrosted, it should be consumed within 24 hours. The microbiological team at the FSA has drafted a strategic review to understand whether there is an increased risk to freezing foods on the use-by date compared to the day before the use-by date. The review has focused on how the shelf-life of a food is determined and the effects of freezing, thawing and refrigeration on common foodborne pathogens.
A microbiological survey of campylobacter contamination in fresh whole UK-produced chilled chickens at retail sale (Y5)
This survey follows on from previous reports examining fresh, whole UK-produced chickens sold at non-major retailers. The survey again looks at prevalence and levels of campylobacter contamination and antimicrobial resistance on chicken neck skin.
Optimising extraction and RT-qPCR-based detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) from pork meat and pork products
The aim of this project is to address the lack of standardised methods for the detection of HEV in pork meat and pork products.
Assessing the survival of SARS-CoV-2 on food surfaces and food packaging materials
This project will explore the survival of SARS-CoV-2 virus on the surfaces of various foods and food packaging materials at a range of temperatures, humidity levels and time periods representative of a retail environment.
Meta-analysis of the efficacy of interventions applied during primary processing to reduce microbiological contamination in beef
This project assessed the significance of various interventions to reduce the microbiological load on beef in primary production identified in a previous literature review (FSA project FS301044).
NHS (England) Hospital Food Review – FSA evidence package
This package of evidence was put together to support the NHS (England) Hospital Food Review Panel’s consideration of food safety as part of the “root and branch” review of the food provided in NHS facilities for patients, visitors and staff.
Comparing the methodologies used to estimate foodborne disease in the UK to those used in other countries
A systematic literature review of the different methodologies used to estimate foodborne infectious intestinal disease in different countries. This includes assessing whether comparisons of foodborne disease rates between countries using different approaches are possible.
A critical literature review to assess the significance of intervention methods to reduce the microbiological load on beef through primary production
This project performed a broad critical review of literature on interventions applied in a minced beef production chain for the reduction of bacterial load, with a focus on the pre-slaughter, slaughter, and post-slaughter production processes.
Coronavirus risk to UK consumers via shellfish and crops grown on land treated with sewage sludge - Risk assessment
Risk question: What is the coronavirus risk to UK consumers via shellfish and crops grown on land treated with sewage sludge?
Qualitative risk assessment on the risk of food or food contact materials as a transmission route for SARS-CoV-2
Risk question: What is the risk of food, food contact materials, or food packaging being a source or transmission route of SARS-CoV-2 for UK consumers?
The Burden of Foodborne Disease in the UK 2018
This Report contains the results of a five year programme to build a Cost of Illness (COI) model, which for the first time allows us to estimate the burden of foodborne illness in the UK.
Foodborne Disease Estimates for the United Kingdom in 2018
This paper includes the Foodborne Disease Estimation Model (FDEM), developed by analysts at the FSA to provide annual estimates for the burden of foodborne disease in the UK.
Technical Report: Review of Quantitative Risk Assessment of foodborne norovirus transmission
An internal FSA review of the Norovirus Attribution Study (NoVAS)
Norovirus Attribution Study
Assessing the contribution made by the food chain to the burden of UK-acquired norovirus infection
A critical review of microbiological colonisation of nano- and microplastics (NMPs) and their significance to the food chain
This project will critically review the science literature to determine the diversity of microorganisms that colonise nano and microplastics (NMPs), the key pathways these microbiologically contaminated plastics can enter the food chain and the risk that they pose to human health. This review will also consider antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and biofilm formation.
Campylobacter data gathering survey
This report contains the results of a three-month data gathering project, in which major retailers were subject to a microbiological survey of campylobacter contamination in fresh whole UK-produced chilled chickens at retail sale.
A microbiological survey of campylobacter contamination in fresh whole UK-produced chilled chickens at retail sale (Y2/3/4)
This survey follows on from the 2014/15 survey examining fresh, whole UK-produced chickens sold at retail. The survey again looks at prevalence and levels of campylobacter contamination both on the chicken skin and on the outside of the packaging.
Thermal Inactivation Model for Hepatitis E Virus (HEV)
This project will produce a mathematical model to predict the thermal stringency, in terms of time and temperature combinations, needed to inactivate hepatitis E virus (HEV) typically found in different matrices, including foods such as pork and pork products, water and blood.