Foodborne disease

Rapid Risk Assessment: Risk to UK consumers from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 B3.13 in US dairy products

In March 2024, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release confirming that the RNA of a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) had been detected in dairy cattle herds that had been displaying milk drop and other clinical signs. In April 2024 the FDA confirmed that infectious virus (sometimes called bird flu) was present in raw milk, and a university research group claimed that RNA was detectable in pasteurised milk on retail sale.

Risk assessment for vulnerable consumers from Listeria monocytogenes in blue cheese

This risk assessment was commissioned to assess the risk to vulnerable groups in the UK from blue cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Blue cheese is defined as cheese internally ripened with Penicillium mould.

Survey of the microbiological contamination of cull ewes and prime lamb at slaughter in England and Wales

There has been no recent monitoring of microorganisms on sheep at slaughter in England and Wales, the last survey being 20 years ago. To address this evidence gap, the FSA has commissioned a survey to gather data on the prevalence and levels of pathogenic and commensal microorganisms contaminating lamb and sheep carcases as this will inform several areas of the FSA’s work.

Optimising extraction and RT-qPCR-based detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) from pork meat and products (HEVDETECT)

The aim of this project is to address the lack of standardised methods for the detection of HEV in pork meat and pork products.

A Qualitative Assessment of the Risk of Acquiring Avian Influenza from Poultry and Game Bird Meat Poultry products

Salmonella risk profile of UK-produced hen shell eggs

This risk profile will examine the current situation of Salmonella in UK-produced table eggs, and the factors that may influence the current risk of Salmonella in UK-produced eggs.

Risk of campylobacteriosis from low-throughput poultry slaughterhouses

This report estimates the difference in risk of campylobacteriosis for products from low-throughput and high-throughput poultry slaughterhouses in the UK

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

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.

A survey of Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and antimicrobial resistance in frozen, part-cooked, breaded or battered poultry products on retail sale in the United Kingdom

In this study we estimated how frequently Salmonella spp. were present in frozen, breaded or battered chicken products, intended to be cooked before consumption, on retail sale in the UK between April and July 2021. 

Modelling framework to quantify the risk of AMR exposure via food products - example of chicken and lettuce

This study reviewed literature for the creation of a set of modular templates of risk of AMR within the chicken and lettuce supply chain, focusing on all processing stages. This work sought to enable the FSA to produce more efficient and reproducible AMR risk assessments within foods.

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.

Qualitative research into the consumption of food with expired ‘use by’ dates

The COVID-19 Consumer Tracker and the Food and You 2 survey indicate that a substantial minority of consumers eat food after the use-by date (UBD) has expired. The FSA wished to discover more about the drivers of consuming food after the UBD, and barriers to compliance with the UBD

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.

Survey of consumer practices with respect to coated frozen chicken products

Social research on coated frozen chicken products to cook and eat at home.

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?

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.