Original scientific paper
Risk Assessment of Shell Eggs Internally Contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis
Leanne M. DeWinte
; Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada
William H. Ross
; Bureau of Food Surveillance and Science Integration, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada
Hélène Couture
; Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada
Jeff F. Farber
; Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada
Abstract
A risk assessment was performed to determine
the health risks associated with the consumption of
Canadian grade A eggs internally contaminated with
Salmonella Enteritidis. The distribution of the prevalence of
contaminated eggs yielded an average of 1.7 per million
from regulated laying flocks. The poorest storage and
handling conditions for eggs represent 0.6% of exposures
but result in 46% of illnesses; eggs handled under ideal
storage and handling conditions account for 96% of
exposures and represent 49% of illnesses. These findings
suggest that risk management options targeting
contaminated egg prevalence and the number of illnesses
from a contaminated egg would be appropriate. Simulated
risk management strategies included i) vaccination of
flocks moving into houses previously occupied by positive
flocks, ii) test and divert flock management strategy with
environmental testing for S. Enteritidis, iii) eliminating the
use of pooled shell eggs in foodservice and institutional
settings, and iv) eliminating S. Enteritidis growth by
improving egg storage and handling conditions. Strategies
aimed at flock management yielded simulated reductions
in contaminated egg prevalence between 2 and 29% of
baseline, with smaller simulated gains from strategies
aimed at reducing the number of illnesses per
contaminated egg.
Keywords
Salmonella Enteritidis; eggs; risk assessment
Hrčak ID:
71859
URI
Publication date:
15.9.2011.
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