Scientific Opinion on the public health hazards to be covered by inspection of meat from farmed game

Abstract

Salmonella spp. in farmed wild boar and Toxoplasma gondii in farmed deer and farmed wild boar were ranked as a high priority for meat inspection. Trichinella spp. in wild boar was ranked as low priority due to current controls, which should be continued. For chemical hazards, all substances were ranked as medium or lower potential concern. More effective control of biological hazards could be achieved using an integrated farm to chilled carcass approach, including improved food chain information (FCI) and risk-based controls. Further studies are required on Salmonella spp. in farmed wild boar and T. gondii in farmed wild boar and farmed deer. If new information confirms a high risk to public health from meat from these species, setting targets at carcass level should be considered. Palpation and incision should be omitted, as it will not detect biological hazards considered to be a high priority for meat inspection while increasing the potential spread and crosscontamination of the carcasses with Salmonella. Palpation and/or incision may be applied where abnormalities have been detected but away from the slaughter line. However the elimination of routine palpation and incision would be detrimental for detecting tuberculosis. As farmed deer and farmed wild boar can act as tuberculosis reservoirs, any reduction in the detection, due to changes in the post-mortem inspection procedures, will have SUMMARYFollowing a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the public health hazards to be covered by inspection of meat from several animal species, with the contribution of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) and the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW). Briefly, the main risks to public health that should be addressed by meat inspection were identified and ranked; the strengths and weaknesses of the current methods of meat inspection were evaluated; and recommendations were made for inspection methods fit for the purpose of meeting the overall objectives of meat inspection for hazards not covered by the current meat inspection system, and for adaptations of inspection methods and/or frequencies of inspections that provide an equivalent level of protection. In addition, the implications for animal health and animal welfare of any changes proposed to current inspection methods were assessed. This opinion covers the inspection of meat from farmed game, specifically farmed deer, reindeer, ostrich, wild boar and rabbit.To fulfil this mandate, the first stage in this assessment focused on identifying the biological hazards that occur in farmed game in Europe. The relevance of each biological hazard was evaluated based on two criteria: (1) any evidence that the biological hazard is transmissible to humans through the handling, preparation and/or consumption of farmed game meat; and (2) evidence that the biological hazard is present in the farmed game population in the European Union (EU). Biological hazards t...

Technical specifications on harmonised epidemiological indicators for biological hazards to be covered by meat inspection of farmed game

“…It is related to the mandate from the Commission for a scientific opinion on the public health hazards to be covered by inspection of meat. The scientific opinion on the public health hazards to be covered by inspection of meat from farmed game (EFSA BIOHAZ Panel, 2013a) and this report under this mandate concern the meat inspection of farmed game and they were published in June 2013.…”

“…In general, very little information is available on farmed wild boar populations in the EU (EFSA, 2012;EFSA BIOHAZ Panel, 2013a). The BIOMO questionnaire survey revealed that the number of holdings of farmed wild boar in countries is small and each holding usually has fewer than 30 animals per holding.…”

“…Also, assessments of the risk posed by meat from reactor-positive cattle concluded that such meat did not present any additional risks (EFSA BIOHAZ Panel, 2013a, 2013b.…”

“…Although subclinical infections are more common than clinical infections, farmed wild boar and deer are unlikely to be a source of exposure for humans, based on the infrequent reporting of tuberculosis cases in these animals (see section 4.6.2) and the lack of documented evidence that farmed game meat is associated with human infection (EFSA BIOHAZ Panel, 2013a). …”

“…These hazards include parasites, bacteria and a virus (EFSA BIOHAZ Panel, 2013a). The relevant hazards related to farmed game meat vary among the Member States (MSs) in accordance with the epidemiological situation and food consumption habits.…”