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Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most dangerous food-borne pathogens and is responsible for human listeriosis, a severe disease with a high mortality rate, especially among the elderly, pregnant women and newborns. Therefore, this bacterium has an important impact on food safety and public health. It is able to survive and even grow in a temperature range from -0.4°C to 45°C, a broad pH range from 4.6 to 9.5 and at a relatively low water activity (aW < 0.90), and tolerates salt content up to 20%. It is also resistant to ultraviolet light, biocides and heavy metals and forms biofilm structures on a variety of surfaces in food-production environments. These features make it difficult to remove and allow it to persist for a long time, increasing the risk of contamination of food-production facilities and ultimately of food. In the present review, the key mechanisms of the pathogen’s survival and stress adaptation have been presented. This information may grant better understanding of bacterial adaptation to food environmental conditions.

Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen responsible for human listeriosis, which is a disease with high hospitalisation and mortality rates. The bacteria are usually susceptible to most antibacterial substances, but resistance to some of them has been recently observed. The present study introduces the evidence on the emergence of antibiotic resistance among L. monocytogenes strains isolated from food and food-production environments in Poland.

Campylobacteriosis is the most common human foodborne bacterial infection worldwide and is caused by bacteria of the Camplylobacter genus. The main source of these bacteria is poultry, but other food-producing animals such as pigs are also responsible for human infections. An increasing number of strains with resistance to fluoroquinolones and other antimicrobials such as macrolides were recently noted. The aim of the study was to investigate Campylobacter contamination of porcine carcasses and determine the antimicrobial resistance of the obtained isolates.

Histamine intoxication, known as scombroid fish poisoning, is caused by the consumption of foods with high levels of histamine. This biogenic amine is formed as a result of histidine decarboxylation by bacterial decarboxylases present in food, including fish and fish products. The aim of this study was to investigate the content of histamine at different production stages of canned, marinated and smoked fish.

The consumption of organic food has increased in recent years. In organic rearing animals are exposed to outdoor conditions, which may increase their risk of infection from various pathogens. In the present study the occurrence of the most significant foodborne pathogenic bacteria in organic meat and ready-to-eat organic meat products was assessed. Out of 100 raw organic meat samples tested, 72 were contaminated with bacterial pathogens. The highest percentage of contaminated samples was observed in poultry meat (92.5%) followed by pork meat (66.7%). Furthermore, 50.0% of beef origin samples were positive for the bacteria tested. L. monocytogenes was found in 39.0% of samples, S. aureus was identified in 37.0%, Campylobacter in 20.0%, Salmonella in 8.0% and Shigatoxin-producing E. coli in 4.0% of raw meat samples. In 31.0% of samples a co-occurrence of two (83.9%) or three (16.1%) pathogens was observed. Among 100 samples of organic meat products tested, only L. monocytogenes was found in 5.0% of samples. The result of the present study indicated that organic food may be a source of harmful microorganisms that may pose foodborne infections to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histamine is one of the most important and toxic biogenic amines which may be present in food and may cause food poisoning in humans when contained at a high level. It is produced during bacterial decarboxylation of histidine in fish muscles. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of histamine in fish and fish products available in Poland during 2014–2018.

Marine biotoxins are toxic substances that may cause illness and death in marine organisms and humans. This article disseminates the results of a 4-year study on the occurrence of marine biotoxins in raw bivalve molluscs purchased from Polish suppliers.

The organic food sector and consumer interest in organic products are growing continuously. The safety and quality of such products must be at least equal to those of conventional equivalents, but attaining the same standards requires overcoming a particular problem identified in organic food production systems: the occurrence of bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and pathogenic Escherichia coli. These food-borne microorganisms were detected in the production environments of such food. The prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in organic livestock and products may be higher, but may also be the same as or lower than in like material from conventional farms. Furthermore, the incidence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria was more often detected in conventional than in organic production. The aim of this review was to present the recent information on the microbiological safety of food of animal origin produced from raw materials from organic farms.

The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the presence of biogenic amines, particularly histamine, in various food products, discuss the most important factors influencing their accumulation, and address potential toxicity and safe limits in food. Biogenic amines are natural components of animal and plant raw materials, where they are present at concentrations appearing non-harmful to human health. Their increased content in foods results from the activity of endogenous enzymes or from the microbial decarboxylation of amino acids during controlled or spontaneous fermentation, processing, storage, and distribution. General knowledge of biogenic amines, factors favouring their formation and their safe limits in food are useful in preventing exposure to their toxic effects on the human body. Based on this information, appropriate prophylaxis can be applied, which will consist primarily of maintenance of good hygiene standards of raw materials and products, employment of appropriate processing procedures and upkeep of sanitary food storage conditions.

In November 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), published latest report on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents in the European Union (EU) in 2022. The numbers of zoonoses cases were usually higher comparing to 2021. Campylobacteriosis was again the first, most reported zoonotic disease in the EU with 137,107 laboratory confirmed cases, including 528 in Poland. Poultry meat was still the most important food-borne source of Campylobacter organisms. Salmonellosis was the second most commonly recorded zoonosis with 65,208 confirmed cases (6,054 in Poland), and Salmonella spp. was mainly identified in fresh poultry meat and products thereof. In 2022, yersiniosis was the third reported zoonosis in the EU, with a total of 7,912 cases (180 in Poland), followed by E.coli VTEC infections (7,117 infected persons in the EU and only 34 in Poland). The number of listeriosis cases was 2,738 (142 persons in Poland) and the mortality was still high, since 286 persons have died. The number of Francisella tularensis food-borne infections and Q fever cases, were 620 (33 in Poland), and 719 (two in Poland), respectively, which were lower and higher than in the previous year, respectively. Brucella and Mycobacterium bovis or M. caprae infected persons identified in 2022 were of 198 and 130, respectively, with only one case of brucellosis in Poland. This article presents current data on this important health issue in EU countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a toxin mainly occurring naturally in contaminated puffer fish, which are a culinary delicacy in Japan. It is also detected in various marine organisms like globefish, starfish, sunfish, stars, frogs, crabs, snails, Australian blue-ringed octopuses, and bivalve molluscs. TTX is produced by marine bacteria that are consumed mainly by fish of the Tetraodontidae family and other aquatic animals. TTX poisoning through consuming marine snails has recently begun to occur over a wider geographical extent through Taiwan, China, and Europe. This neurotoxin causes food intoxication and poses an acute risk to public health. The aim of this review is to present the most recent information about TTX and its analogues with particular regard to toxicity, methods of analysis, and risk to humans of exposure.

Introduction:Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most frequently reported causes of foodborne bacterial enteric disease worldwide. The main source of these microorganisms is contaminated food, especially of poultry origin. There are several molecular methods for differentiation of Campylobacter isolates at the subgenus level, and one of these is porA-typing based on the sequencing of the major outer-membrane protein (MOMP) encoding gene. The aim of the study was to test the molecular relationship of C. jejuni strains isolated at different points along the poultry food chain and assess the population structure of the isolates.

In 2015 in the European Union member states listeriosis caused 270 deaths. Food is the route of transmission in 99% of all human infection cases. Several studies from different countries have shown that the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in food can be as high as 58.3%. One of the most important ways to protect food from these microorganisms is to prevent the spread of the bacteria at processing plants at different stages of food production chain. The ability of L. monocytogenes to survive in extreme conditions and to form biofilms on various surfaces is a significant challenge for food safety. Removal of these bacteria from niches in processing plants is difficult and requires the use of sanitisers and precise equipment cleaning. The presence of L. monocytogenes in processing environment at slaughterhouses, deli meat factories or in retail may be a reason of cross-contamination. Proper hygienic systems applied by workers in food preparing places and knowledge about different routes of spreading of these bacteria may effectively decrease the risk of food contamination. Standardised legal regulations and control of meat product manufacture should be a fundamental way to protect food from L. monocytogenes contamination.

In recent years, there has been a great interest in biogenic amines such histamine, as they are associated with the quality and safety of some kinds of fermented foods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of temperature and storage time on the content of histamine in cheeses.

Introduction: Growing consumption of shellfish is associated with an increased risk of food poisoning. The study was carried out on live bivalve molluscs available on the Polish market between 2009 and 2013. Material and Methods: ELISA was used for the determination of the following marine biotoxins: paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), amnaesic shellfish poison (ASP), and diarrhoeic shellfish poison (DSP). The molluscs, of which seven species were examined, were obtained from wholesale companies and markets. Results: Marine biotoxins were detected below the permitted levels in 67.6% of the samples. The maximum amounts of PSP and ASP biotoxins were found in great scallops (532.6 μg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg respectively) and the peak for DSP was in blue mussels (107 μg/kg). Conclusion: The analysis of toxicological status of raw bivalve molluscs available on the market in Poland indicates that they are safe for consumers.

Introduction: The study objective was to develop and evaluate a new TaqMan multiplex real-time PCR method for Salmonella, L. monocytogenes, and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) detection in slaughtered animal carcasses.

In December 2022, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), published the recent report on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents in the European Union (EU) in 2021. The numbers of zoonoses cases were higher when compared with 2020. Campylobacteriosis remained the first most reported zoonotic disease in the EU with 127,840 laboratory confirmed cases, including 616 in Poland. Poultry meat was still the most important food-borne source of Campylobacter. Salmonellosis was the second most commonly recorded zoonosis with 60,050 confirmed cases (7,702 in Poland), and Salmonella was mainly identified in fresh poultry meat and products thereof. In 2021, yersiniosis was the third most often reported zoonosis in the EU, with a total of 6,789 cases (142 in Poland), followed by VTEC infections (6,084 infected persons in the EU and only 7 in Poland). The number of listeriosis cases was 2,183 (120 in Poland). However, the mortality of the disease was still high. The number of Francisella tularensis infections and Q fever cases in 2021 were 876 (43 in Poland) and 460 (none in Poland), respectively, what was higher than in the previous year. Brucella spp. and Mycobacterium bovis or M. caprae infected people identified in 2021 were of 162 and 111, respectively, with only one case of brucellosis in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2022 the European Medicines Agency (EMA), published the 12th report on sales of antimicrobial agents used in veterinary medicine in 31 European countries in the year 2021. A total of 5,295.8 tons of those products were sold for animal treatment, which was 5.6% less when compared to 2020. In Poland 778,,7 tons were sold, which was 14,7% of total European consumption in 2021. Differences of sales of the various antimicrobial classes between the countries (mean 84,4 mg/population correction unit [PCU] in Europe), were observed, from 2,5 mg/PCU in Norway to 296,5 mg/PCU in Cyprus, while in Poland – 175,5 mg/PCU. These values show European and Polish decreases of 4,6% and 12,4% between 2020 and 2021, respectively The largest proportions of the sold antimicrobials were accounted for penicillins (31,2%), tetracyclines (25,8%), sulfonamides (9,9%), and macrolides (,5%). For the antimicrobial classes belonging to the list of critically important antimicrobials with highest priority in human medicine, namely 3rd and 4th generation of cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and polymyxins, the sales for food-producing animals accounted for (in mg/PCU) 0,2%, 2,4, and 2,2%, of the total sales in the 31 countries in 2021, respectively. In Poland, these values were 0,4%, 1,7%, and 6,1%, respectively. For the period 2018–2021, an overall decline in sales (mg/PCU) of 28,7% was observed, from 118,3 mg/PCU in 2018 to 84,4 mg/PCU in 2021. During this period, sales also decreased in Poland by 6,6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), published the recent report on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents in the European Union (EU), in 2020. The number of cases was usually much lower than in 2019, mainly due to lack of the United Kingdom data (non-EU Member State since January 31, 2020). Campylobacteriosis was still the first most reported zoonotic disease in the EU with 120,946 laboratory confirmed cases, including 414 in Poland. Poultry meat is probably still the most important food-borne source of Campylobacter due to remained a high level of these bacteria. Salmonellosis was the second most commonly recorded zoonosis with 52,702 confirmed human cases (5,205 in Poland), and Salmonella was mainly identified in fresh poultry meat and products thereof. In 2020, yersiniosis was the third on the list of reported zoonoses in EU, with a total of 7,048 cases (87 in Poland). VTEC infections in humans were identified in 4,446 people in the EU (only three cases in Poland), whereas the number of listeriosis cases was 1,876, including 62 people in Poland. However, the mortality was still high, since 167 (almost 9%), patients have died. The number of Francisella tularensis infections and Q fever cases were 641 and 523, respectively, which were much lower than in the previous year. Brucella and Mycobacterium bovis or M. caprae infected people identified in 2020 were 128 and 88 (none in Poland), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As in previous years, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), published Report on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents in the European Union (EU), in 2019. Campylobacteriosis still remains the first, most reported zoonotic disease in humans, in the EU, with 220,682 laboratory confirmed cases, including 715 in Poland. This means, that the trend for confirmed human cases of this disease was stable during years 2015–2019. Poultry meat is probably the most important source of food-borne Campylobacter. Salmonellosis was the second, most commonly recorded zoonosis with 87,923 confirmed human cases (8,373 in Poland), which is was at the a slightly lower level when compared to 2018. Salmonella was identified mainly in fresh poultry meat and products thereof. VTEC infections in humans, with regard to frequency, were the third reported zoonosis in the EU, with a total of 7,775 confirmed infections (14 in Poland), which was less than in the previous year (8,161 cases). Yersiniosis was identified in 7,048 people (196 in Poland), which was slightly less as compared to the previous data (7,204 cases). The number of listeriosis cases moderately increased to 2,621, including 121 people in Poland. However, the mortality rate was high and in the EU 300 persons have died, including 54 in our country. On the other hand, Listeria monocytogenes rarely exceeded the EU food safety limits in ready-to-eat food. The number of Francisella tularensis infections and Q fever cases were 1,280 and 950, respectively. For the first time since 2014, Q fever was identified in Poland (4 cases). Then, in 2019, Brucella and Mycobacterium bovis or M. caprae infected people were identified as 310 and 147 (two and 0 in Poland), respectively. This article aims at the presentation of the Report findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of 2021, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), published the 11th report on sales of antimicrobial agents used in veterinary medicine in 31 European countries in years 2019 and 2020. A total of 5,577.8 tons were sold in 2020 for animal treatment, including 5,507.7 tons used for food production animals, which was 5.6% more as compared to 2019. In Poland, 856.7 tons were sold, making 15.4% of total European antimicrobials consumption. EMA has developed a unit of measurement to monitor antibiotic use and sales across Europe as mg/PCU, where PCU means Population Correction Unit, and takes into account the animal population as well as the estimated weight of each particular animal at the time of treatment with antibiotics. Differences of sales of various antimicrobial classes between the countries (mean is 89.0 mg/PCU) in Europe was observed, from 2.3 mg/PCU in Norway to 393.9 mg/PCU in Cyprus (187.9 mg/PCU in Poland). These values show that between 2020 and 2021 in Europe and in Poland antibiotics use has increased 5.9% and 1.9%, respectively The largest proportions of the sold antimicrobials were accounted for penicillins (31.1%; 27.7 mg/PCU), tetracyclines (26.7%; 23.8 mg/PCU), and sulfonamides (8.8%; 6.4 mg/PCU). For the antimicrobials classes from the list of critically important antibiotics with highest priority in human medicine, namely 3rd and 4th generation of cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, other quinolones, and polymyxins, the sales for food-producing animals accounted for 0,2%, 2.6%, 0.2%, and 2.8%, of the total sales in the 31 countries in 2020, respectively. In Poland, the highest consumption of antimicrobials were noted for penicillins (61.1 mg/PCU), tetracyclines (45.3 mg/ PCU), and macrolides (24.8 mg/PCU). For the period 2011-2020, an overall decline in sales of 43.2% was observed, from 161.4 mg/PCU in 2011 to 91.6 mg/PCU in 2020. During this period, sales decreased by more than 5% in 19 countries, whereas in four others sales increased by more than 5%, including Poland, where a total increase from 126.3 mg/PCU in 2011 to 197.9 mg/PCU in 2020 was noted. This article presents EMA report with critical comments and remarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2019, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), published the yearly report on the trends and sources of zoonoses and zoonotic agents in the European Union (EU) in 2018. Campylobacteriosis was the most frequently reported zoonotic disease in the EU, with 246.571 laboratory confirmed cases (including 719 in Poland), which means the same number as in 2017. Poultry meat still appears to be the most important food-borne source of Campylobacter spp. Salmonellosis was the second most frequently recorded zoonosis with 91.857 confirmed human cases (9064 in Poland), which was similar as in the 2017 report. Fresh poultry meat and products thereof followed by fresh pig meat were reported as major sources of Salmonella spp. On the other hand, the prevalence of salmonellae in breeding hens, laying hens, broilers and fattening turkeys decreased, in recent years. VTEC infections in humans were the third, most often reported zoonotic disease in the EU, with a total of 8161 confirmed cases (5 in Poland), which was significantly more than in 2017 (6073 patients). Yersiniosis was diagnosed in 7204 people (170 in Poland), which means the increase as compared to 2017 (6823 cases). The number of cases of listeriosis in humans increased to 2549, including 128 in Poland and among them, in the EU, 229 patients died (56 in our country). The number of Q fever and Francisella tularensis infection cases were 789 and 300, respectively (0 and 16 Poland), whereas the number of Brucella spp. and Mycobacterium bovis infections was 358 and 170, respectively (no cases in Poland). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]