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Assessment of microbial risks in foods

Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter – and other bacteria as well as viruses in foods can constitute a health risk for humans. The task of BfR is to control the spreading of these microbial risks in the food chain and assess the health risk of contaminated foods and feeds. The control of pathogens starts as early as possible: during food production and processing.

Foodborne diseases caused by microorganisms

Microorganisms are – apart from malnutrition – the by far most frequent cause for foodborne diseases. Pathogens can occur in foods originating from animals but also in plant-based foods. The currently most important food infections, campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis originate above all in the primary production, i.e. the animal stocks.

Research on Salmonella infections and other zoonoses

Diseases which can be transmitted from animals to humans are referred to as zoonoses. In this connection the foodborne Listeria, toxoplasms and Yersinia are the most relevant.

The tasks of the BfR experts include research on zoonotic agents, their transmission and dissemination paths as well as the development of diagnostic methods which are suitable for routine examinations of foods.

A salmonellosis is an inflammatory disease of the gastro-intestinal tract (infectious gastroenteritis) caused by Salmonella (bacteria). It is caused by poor hygiene measures, the consumption of contaminated drinking water or contaminated foods.

Campylobacteriosis in turn refers to diseases which are caused by bacteria of the Campylobacter genus, a genus of spiral bacteria.

Reference laboratories for zoonotic agents

In view of controlling the most relevant zoonotic agents, BfR develops measures for a sustainably safe food production.

BfR hosts additional national reference laboratories for different zoonotic agents in order to meet the very high demands on securing consumer health protection.

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Information

 (5)
Date Title Size
14.12.2015
BfR Information Nr. 047/2015
Wearing gloves when eviscerating animals protects hunters from hepatitis E 22.8 KB
PDF-File
27.07.2010
BfR Information No. 033/2010
Food involved in disease outbreaks in Germany in 2009 33.2 KB
PDF-File
01.03.2010
BfR Information Nr. 012/2010
Hepatitis E virus in wild boars in Germany 26.4 KB
PDF-File
31.05.2009
BfR Information No. 033/2009
Food involved in disease outbreaks in Germany in 2008 29.9 KB
PDF-File
31.03.2009
BfR Information No. 010/2009
Food involved in disease outbreaks in Germany in 2007 27.2 KB
PDF-File

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Opinion

 (28)
Date Title Size
30.11.2022
Joint Opinion No. 036/2022 from the BfR and MRI
New Findings concerning "Bovine Meat and Milk Factors" (BMMF) 156.1 KB
PDF-File
27.07.2022
BfR Opinion No 021/2022
Reclaimed wastewater: preventing protozoa on plant foods 560.5 KB
PDF-File
13.04.2022
BfR Opinion No. 011/2022
Bacterial foodborne Vibrio infections: health risk assessment of the occurrence of Vibrio spp. (non-cholera vibrios) in food 762.7 KB
PDF-File
28.11.2019
BfR Opinion No 047/2019
Comparing the genetic material of pathogens to explain disease outbreaks 245.2 KB
PDF-File
19.09.2019
BfR Opinion No 014/2019 of 18 April 2019, updated on
New pathogens in beef and cow’s milk products: More research required 186.9 KB
PDF-File
05.09.2018
BfR Opinion No 028/2018
Brucellosis: Although risk of infection from mare's milk is low in Germany, BfR still recommends heat treatment 245.9 KB
PDF-File
13.04.2016
BfR Opinion No 008/2016
Raw milk: boiling protects against infection with Campylobacter 40.4 KB
PDF-File
24.04.2013
BfR Opinion Nr. 008/2014
Salmonella control programme in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 2160/2003: 2012 results 24.9 KB
PDF-File
13.06.2012
BfR Opinion Nr. 029/2012
Salmonella control programme in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 2160/2003: results for the year 2011 31.7 KB
PDF-File
09.05.2011
Updated BfR Opinion Nr. 017/2011
High microbial load in sprouts and ready-to-eat salad mixtures 38.5 KB
PDF-File
14.03.2011
Updated BfR Opinion No. 010/2011
Pseudomonads have caused spoiled mozzarella cheese 32.1 KB
PDF-File
01.08.2010
BfR Opinion Nr. 044/2010
Salmonella control programme according to Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003: Results for 2009 30.3 KB
PDF-File
14.07.2010
BfR Opinion Nr. 030/2010
Clostridium estertheticum in vacuum-packed beef: Health risk through consumption is unlikely 24.8 KB
PDF-File
15.03.2010
BfR Opinion Nr. 018/2010
Q fever: transmission of Coxiella burnetii through the consumption of foods of animal origin unlikely 29.1 KB
PDF-File
30.11.2009
BfR Opinion Nr. 011/2010
Occurrence of pathogenic mycobacteria in fattening pigs 30.6 KB
PDF-File
16.07.2009
BfR Opinion Nr. 010/2010
Baseline study published on the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in broiler carcasses 31.4 KB
PDF-File
01.07.2009
BfR Opinion No 045/2009
EU programme to combat salmonella: 2008 results record a positive trend 27.9 KB
PDF-File
25.03.2009
BfR Opinion Nr. 044/2009
Basic study to record the prevalence of MRSA in pig breeding stocks 28.1 KB
PDF-File
25.03.2009
BfR Opinion No. 049/2009
Results of the baseline study on the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in holdings of breeding pigs presented 29.0 KB
PDF-File
15.03.2009
BfR Opinion No. 014/2009
People can become infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) through contact with livestock 37.4 KB
PDF-File
01.04.2008
BfR Opinion Nr. 027/2008
Hygienic efficiency of dishwashers for drinking glasses in the food service sector 29.3 KB
PDF-File
26.03.2008
BfR Opinion No. 015/2009
MRSA in food? 30.8 KB
PDF-File
20.03.2008
BfR Opinion Nr. 026/2008
Inadequately heated pork could contain sarcocysts 28.1 KB
PDF-File
14.01.2008
BfR Opinion Nr. 008/2008
The temperature at which food is kept warm should be higher than 65 °C 37.6 KB
PDF-File
20.12.2007
BfR Opinion No. 002/2008
Campylobacter spp. in duck breast 31.7 KB
PDF-File
01.11.2007
BfR Opinion No. 046/2007
Arcobacter spp. in raw meat can trigger food-borne infections in humans 29.1 KB
PDF-File
01.07.2007
BfR Opinion No. 027/2007
Wild boar meat may contain the harmful Alaria alata 28.5 KB
PDF-File
21.05.2007
BfR Opinion No. 034/2007
From the scientific angle there is no region in Germany with a negligible Trichinella risk 31.2 KB
PDF-File

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Other documents

 (1)
Date Title Size
13.11.2003
BfR Report
First results of the International Symposium on the Risk Analysis of Antibiotic Resistance 34.0 KB
PDF-File

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Press releases

 (50)
Date Title Keywords
06.06.2023
10/2023
World Food Safety Day: 600 million reasons for good kitchen hygiene consumer protection , food safety , Kitchen hygiene
20.12.2022
47/2022
Declining Trend in the Use of Antibiotics in Fattening Animals antibiotics
02.08.2022
28/2022
Reclaimed wastewater in agriculture: health risk from pathogens on fruit and vegetables? food infection , parasite , toxoplasmosis , Water reuse
16.07.2021
33/2021
African swine fever: No risk to consumers African swine fever (ASF), food safety
11.09.2020
29/2020
African swine fever: No risk to consumers African swine fever (ASF), food safety
29.01.2019
06/2019
Resistant germs - a global problem antimicrobial resistance, cooperations
08.11.2018
40/2018
Resistant bacteria: can raw vegetables and salad pose a health risk? antimicrobial resistance, bacteria , Water reuse
06.11.2018
38/2018
Caution, tasteless! Viruses and antimicrobially resistant bacteria in foods research , viruses
14.09.2018
28/2018
African swine fever: No risk to consumers African swine fever (ASF), food safety
16.01.2018
02/2018
African swine fever: No risk to consumers African swine fever (ASF), food safety
22.06.2016
24/2016
Cooked on the inside, but not charred on the outside: BfR web film on the art of grilling food safety
31.05.2016
19/2016
Spices and herbs: Ingredients which may pose a health risk food , food safety
24.05.2016
16/2016
Insects as Food and Feed - Food of the Future? food safety
07.01.2016
01/2016
Transferrable colistin resistance found in bacteria from German farm animals antimicrobial resistance
14.12.2015
38/2015
Wearing gloves when eviscerating game protects hunters against hepatitis E food infection , hepatitis E , zoonoses
20.05.2014
11/2014
Raw milk: boiling protects against infections campylobacter, food infection , raw milk , salmonella
02.08.2013
21/2013
Spices and Herbs: A Risk-free Taste Experience food , food safety
07.02.2013
03/2013
Current situation and future perspectives: continuing development of meat inspection food hygiene , food safety , meat products
30.03.2012
14/2012
Blowing and painting Easter eggs - but properly, please!
12.03.2012
11/2012
Seasoned minced meat and raw minced pork are not for little children!
21.02.2012
06/2012
Turkey meat too is often contaminated with antimicrobial-resistant germs
13.01.2012
02/2012
Tracking down germs!
22.12.2011
44/2011
Safe Food in Community Institutions
17.03.2010
06/2010
Chickens frequently contaminated with Salmonella and Campylobacter
15.01.2010
02/2010
Toxoplasmosis: Underestimated risk
17.12.2009
35/2009
Salmonella widespread in pig breeding farms
24.11.2009
31/2009
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) widespread in German pig breeding stocks
17.11.2009
30/2009
Joint efforts to control diseases transmitted from animals to humans
16.11.2009
29/2009
Viruses must be controlled differently from bacteria
30.07.2009
20/2009
Campylobacter: The most frequent pathogen of bacterial diarrhoeal infections
29.05.2009
11/2009
Farm visit without stomach pains
12.05.2009
09/2009
Transmission of MRSA from eating pork unlikely
21.07.2008
13/2008
Better to prepare dough for bread on a stick without eggs
31.03.2008
06/2008
Listeria monocytogenes: The survivor amongst bacteria
05.03.2008
03/2008
New studies show: Salmonella problematic in the case of fattening pigs and turkeys, too
28.01.2008
02/2008
Risky delicacy: Pink duck breast
16.01.2008
01/2008
Food should taste good - not make you sick
17.12.2007
22/2007
How to ensure that Christmas cookies don't cause stomach ache - Tips on how to avoid Salmonella infections
21.08.2007
16/2007
Meat from wild-living animals underestimated as source of EHEC infections EHEC - enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, zoonoses
10.07.2007
11/2007
Risk of trichinosis from locally produced raw sausages from Eastern Europe
21.06.2007
08/2007
No regrets when barbecuing: Pay attention to hygiene and correct preparation of food
22.01.2007
01/2007
Broilers are frequently infected with salmonella
12.09.2006
26/2006
Observe hygiene rules when preparing poultry meat!
19.07.2006
20/2006
Joining forces to fight zoonotic pathogens around the world!
29.06.2006
18/2006
Pathogenic Salmonella detected in just under 30 percent of large-scale laying hen flocks
20.02.2006
04/2006
Mixed infection of Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella pseudospiralis detected in wild boar for the first time anywhere in the world
05.01.2006
01/2006
Pleasure without regret: Tips for handling wild game meat
12.02.2005
06/2005
Salmonella in pork – still a risk
12.11.2004
14/2004
Fewer antibiotics, more hygiene
12.11.2003
23/2003
Scientists advise restrained use of veterinary medicinal products

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External Links

 (1)
Link
COST Action 920 «Foodborne zoonosis: a co-ordinated food chain approach»

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