Search results

International audience ; In two surveys, thighs of a total of 137 hunted hares were tested for the presence of intramuscular shots and femur fractures, which were detected in 42.7% and 29.2% of 274 thighs, respectively. Femur fractures were significantly associated with the presence of intramuscular shots. In the second survey (46 hares), 92 thighs were grouped into three categories, "A" (no fractures, no intramuscular shot), "B" (one intramuscular shot), and "C" (multiple shots and hematoma), with 49.0%, 33.6%, and 17.4%, respectively. Category "C" was found unfit for human consumption. During 7-day storage of vacuum-packed "A" and "B" thighs, total aerobic counts increased from initially 3.3 ± 0.3 (mean ± SD) and 4.1 ± 0.6 log cfu/g by ca. 2 log units when stored at 3-4°C, whereas the increase was clearly <1 log unit at 0°C. In comparison to temperature, differences between "A" and "B" category were less pronounced. Similar dynamics were observed for Enterobacteriaceae. In all categories, muscle pH values (mean = 5.83) were similar. It is concluded that storage at temperatures of ca. 4°C, although in compliance with EU legislation, does not afford keeping microbial contaminants in check, and thus will not preserve microbiological quality of vacuum-packed hare meat.

Many risk management plans as currently implemented by the food industry, appear to be primarily designed to address bacteriological concerns. Hence, these often fail to function when public health risks associated with biological agents such as viruses and prions are to be addressed. Similarly, veterinary education in food hygiene mainly focusses on bacterial agents transferred by domestic animal species via meat and milk and the products manufactured therefrom. Additionally, training rarely includes the dangers associated with other (non-animal based) food ingredients as processed in ready-to-eat meals. It thus appears that food safety professionals - employed by industry or serving as governmental officials commissioned to inspect and audit food manufacturing enterprises - would benefit from being updated on the public health risks associated with foodborne viruses and prions. This book, the sixth in the series Food Safety Assurance and Veterinary Public Health, provides this update. This volume - authored by recognised experts - is targeted at animal and food scientists, students in (veterinary) public health, public health officials and risk managers active in the food industry

This book is the fourth in the series of Food Safety Assurance and Veterinary Public Health, which presents the latest findings in research on the topics of food safety in the entire agrifood chain from stable to table. The themes in this volume cover a range of topics, including epidemiological monitoring and surveillance in primary production and processing of foods of animal origin, antimicrobial resistance and transfer in these foods, and risk modelling and management strategies. Finally, recent food legislation aspects are discussed. This volume is targeted to scientists in academia and industry, graduate students in veterinary and food science as well as to governmental officials in veterinary public health and food safety. The other publications in the Food safety assurance and veterinary public health series are: - Food safety assurance in the pre-harvest phase - Safety assurance during food processing - Risk management strategies: monitoring and surveillance