Regulatory Action Criteria for Filth and Other Extraneous Materials

Abstract

Forty-seven species of flies have been reliably associated with filthy conditions that might allow the spread of foodborne pathogens. These are categorized as "filth flies." Of that 47, only 21 species represent a potential threat to human health as scientifically proven causative agents of foodborne myiasis or as carriers of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and other foodborne pathogens. These 21 species are categorized as "disease-causing flies" based on strict scientific criteria. The criteria are association with E. coli, Salmonella, AND Shigella; synanthropy; endophily; communicative behavior; attraction to both excrement and food products; and recognition by authorities as a potential health hazard. Within Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point and other U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulatory frameworks, disease-causing flies are contributing factors to the spread of foodborne disease that require preventive and corrective actions as appropriate under Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices, or pest control programs.

Phoretic dispersal of entomopathogenic nematodes by Hylobius abietis

“…), this is not always the case. For instance, many flies are known to vector food-borne pathogens from animal to human hosts (Olsen, 1998;Ahmad et al, 2007). Although this study was inconclusive in determining whether the nematodes were attaching to H. abietis solely for phoretic dispersal, H. abietis could effectively vector EPN to new populations, if not individuals, of host insects (Dillon et al, 2008).…”

Multilocus Genetic Characterization of Two Ant Vectors (Group II “Dirty 22” Species) Known To Contaminate Food and Food Products and Spread Foodborne Pathogens

“…The global production of FDA-regulated goods has exploded over the past decade, and the amount of imported material and ingredients used for production of finished products in U.S. manufacturing facilities has increased phenomenally. Consequently, for efficient regulation several strategies have been considered and developed, including the estimation of hazardous and nonhazardous filth and extraneous materials responsible for the adulteration of food products (2,(23)(24)(25)(26). The scientific basis for making a regulatory decision should also be considered when analyzing a food sample for common food pests that can contribute to the spread of foodbome pathogens.…”

“…To accomplish this difficult task, a series of reviews have been published to provide additional guidelines, which include a list of common food pest species (Table 1). These species are also called the " Dirty 22" species, and are deemed by the FDA to be a contributory factor for the spread of foodborne diseases (2,(23)(24)(25)(26).…”

Laminosioptes cysticola in free-range chickens in Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…The life cycle of the parasite is unknown and in free range chickens its occurrence may be overlooked, as subcutaneous tissues are not commonly inspected. The otherwise unseen parasite and cysts may be consumed with free range chicken meat, ingestion which may have a significance for eliciting food-borne allergy (OLSEN, 1998). Extensive cyst formations have been found in free-range chickens of rural Minas Gerais, Brazil.…”

“…Literature information on the epidemiology of the parasite describes its occurrence in different species, such as chicken, turkey, pheasant, goose and pigeon, and may indicate interspecies transmission, with pigeons playing a role for dissemination (STEWART, 1963;FAIN, 1981;SMITH, 1997;SMOLSKA-SZYMCZEWSKA, 2000). Considering that the parasite may be consumed with subsistence fowl meat, as the skin is rarely removed for cooking, it may be also of importance, for the sensitive people, the possibility of allergy elicited by the parasite tissues antigens, in this case by arthropod (OLSEN, 1998), as well as reported for helminth (NIEUWENHUIZEN et al, 2005). The eventual surge of hypersensitivity of unknown cause in allergic people might worth the investigation for history of free range chicken consumed.…”