Assessment of the microbiological safety of edible roasted nut kernels on retail sale in England, with a focus on Salmonella.

There is little published information on the prevalence of Salmonella in edible nut kernels. A study in early 2008 of edible roasted nut kernels on retail sale in England was undertaken to assess the microbiological safety of this product. A total of 727 nut kernel samples of different varieties were examined. Overall, Salmonella and Escherichia coli were detected from 0.2 and 0.4% of edible roasted nut kernels. Of the nut varieties examined, Salmonella Havana was detected from 1 (4.0%) sample of pistachio nuts, indicating a risk to health. The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency was immediately informed, and full investigations were undertaken. Further examination established the contamination to be associated with the pistachio kernels and not the partly opened shells. Salmonella was not detected in other varieties tested (almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, and walnuts). E. coli was found at low levels (range of 3.6 to 4/g) in walnuts (1.4%), almonds (1.2%), and Brazils (0.5%). The presence of Salmonella is unacceptable in edible nut kernels. Prevention of microbial contamination in these products lies in the application of good agricultural, manufacturing, and storage practices together with a hazard analysis and critical control points system that encompass all stages of production, processing, and distribution.

Microbiological study of fresh herbs from retail premises uncovers an international outbreak of salmonellosis.

This Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services/Health Protection Agency study was prompted by the increasing concern regarding the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat salad vegetable products, particularly fresh herbs. During May to October 2007, 3760 ready-to-eat fresh herbs, of different varieties, were sampled across the UK to assess their microbiological safety in relation to salmonella contamination and levels of Escherichia coli. Sixty (1.6%) herb samples were found to be of unsatisfactory quality according to Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 on the microbiological criteria of foodstuffs, i.e. contaminated with Salmonella spp. and/or containing E. coli at >10(3) cfu/g. When criteria in the PHLS Microbiological Guidelines for some ready-to-eat foods (2000) were used, 117 (3.9%) of herb samples were of unsatisfactory quality due to the presence of salmonella and/or E. coli at > or = 10(2) cfu/g. Eighteen (0.5%) samples of six different herb types were contaminated with Salmonella spp.: identified as serotypes Senftenberg (8), Agona (2), Anatum (1), Durban (1), Javiana (1), Mgulani (1), Montevideo (1), Unnamed (I 16:g, t: z42) (1), Virchow (1) and mixed Newport & Virchow (1). In each case the retailer and the UK Food Standards Agency were immediately informed and remedial action taken. Samples contaminated with S. Senftenberg were specifically associated with basil grown in Israel. Thirty-two human cases of S. Senftenberg infection were subsequently identified throughout England and Wales and a further 19 in Scotland, Denmark, The Netherlands and the USA. The strain of S. Senftenberg identified from the basil and that from cases had an indistinguishable molecular profile, suggesting a likely connection between consumption of basil and human infection. The presence of Salmonella spp. is unacceptable in ready-to-foods such as fresh herbs. This study highlights the necessity of applying good agricultural and hygiene practices pre-, during and post-harvest, at processing, retail and use. These practices help to prevent cross-contamination and/or bacterial growth occurring in these products. Best practice is to store and display such products at, or below, 8 degrees C as this inhibits bacterial growth.

Survey of Salmonella contamination of raw shell eggs used in food service premises in the United Kingdom, 2005 through 2006.

This survey was launched after an unusual number of Salmonella Enteritidis outbreaks associated with the use of eggs in food service premises in England and Wales. Between November 2005 and December 2006, 9,528 eggs (1,588 pooled samples of 6 eggs) were collected from 1,567 food service premises in the United Kingdom, most of which (89%) were produced in the United Kingdom. Salmonella was isolated from 6 (0.38%) pools of eggs. Of these, 5 (0.31%) were Salmonella Enteritidis, which were further characterized to phage types (PTs): PT 4 (0.19%), PT 8 (0.06%), and PT 12 (0.06%). Salmonella Mbandaka was also isolated (0.06%). Salmonella was detected from five and one of pooled eggs samples that were produced in the United Kingdom and Germany, respectively; these were from different producers. The study showed evidence of poor egg storage and handling practices in food service premises, in that 55% did not store eggs under refrigerated conditions; 20.7% of eggs had expired "best before" dates or were in use after 3 weeks of lay, indicating poor stock rotation; and 37.1% pooled eggs not intended for immediate service. Eggs are a commonly consumed food that may occasionally be contaminated with Salmonella at different rates, according to their country of origin. The food service sector needs to be aware of this continuing hazard, receive appropriate food safety and hygiene training on storage and usage of raw shell eggs, adopt appropriate control measures, and follow advice provided by national food agencies in order to reduce the risk of infection.

Survey of Salmonella contamination of non-United Kingdom-produced raw shell eggs on retail sale in the northwest of England and London, 2005 to 2006.

This survey was prompted by a change in the epidemiology of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in England and Wales and elsewhere in Europe and, to our knowledge, is the first survey to provide information on Salmonella contamination of non-United Kingdom eggs on retail sale. Based on 10,464 non-United Kingdom eggs (1744 pooled samples of six eggs) purchased between March 2005 and July 2006, the total weighted prevalence estimate for all Salmonella detected in non-United Kingdom eggs was 3.3%. Of the eggs sampled, most were produced in Spain (66.3%), France (20.0%), or The Netherlands (7.4%). Salmonella was detected from 4.4 and 0.3% of eggs produced in Spain and France, respectively, with weighted prevalence estimates. Eight different Salmonella serotypes were recovered from non-United Kingdom eggs, of which Salmonella Enteritidis predominated, with an estimated prevalence of 2.6%. Salmonella Enteritidis was obtained only from Spanish eggs. Nine different phage types of Salmonella Enteritidis were identified, with phage type 1 found to be the predominant phage type. Most of the Salmonella Enteritidis isolates obtained from Spanish eggs in the survey were resistant to nalidixic acid with concomitant decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (0.125 to 1.0 mg/liter) or ampicillin (8.0 mg/liter). Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 1 until now had not been detected in eggs examined as part of previous United Kingdom egg surveys but has been detected in eggs of Spanish origin examined during recent national outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis non-phage type 4 infections in England and Wales. Eggs are a commonly consumed food that may occasionally be contaminated with Salmonella. The rates of contamination may be linked to the origin of the eggs. Consumers and caterers need to be aware of this continuing hazard, adopt appropriate control measures, and follow advice provided by national food agencies in order to reduce the risk of infection.