The EFSA has published scientific opinion on the prevalence, control measures to mitigate and possible monitoring systems (criteria) for Salmonella and Norovirus in berries. The overall conclusion points to the need for Good Agricultural Practice and Good Hygienic Practice based on sound HACCP based food safety management principles. The jury is out on including pathogens such as Norovirus as a microbiological criterion (for possible inclusion into the Microbiological Criteria Regulations) but suggests the monitoring of E.coli levels as a reasonable indicator of human source of faecal pathogen contamination.
Richard Mallett
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