Towards European harmonization of Campylobacter risk assessments?

Quantitative microbial risk assessment models can be used to guide evidence-based corrective actions to reduce risk. Since the introduction of a process hygiene criterion for Campylobacter on chicken carcasses, Campylobacter contamination data are collected within each French slaughterhouse on neck skins to assess possible non-compliance. These surveillance data are currently being used to implement risk mitigation actions at individual slaughterhouses where non-compliances have occurred. A quantitative risk assessment model fed by data from all national slaughterhouses would enable actions to be taken on a national or even European scale. The challenge therefore lies in developing a model that could harmonize Campylobacter risk assessment across Europe.
Enumeration results from pooled samples of neck skins collected in France in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1495 were used in a quantitative microbial risk assessment model. This was initially used in Denmark in its Campylobacter control plan, based on contamination data from individual samples of leg skins. A factor was created to transform Campylobacter concentrations from pooled neck skin samples into concentrations that would be expected on the same carcasses if measured on individual leg skin samples.
A relative risk of campylobacteriosis in 2021 was estimated at 1.22 compared with 2020, taken as the reference year, indicating a risk increase of around 22%. The impact of the estimated value of the conversion factor, the random sampling method used and the censored data, appeared limited on the annual relative risk estimates. The limitations and advantages of using results from pooled neck skin samples collected at slaughterhouses were analyzed.
This study constitutes a proof of concept to the use of Campylobacter contamination data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1495 in a quantitative risk assessment model. This study could then pave the way for the application of standardized Campylobacter risk assessment in chicken meat, communication and risk-based control actions across European poultry meat chains using the results of self-checks based on pooled neck skin samples.

Associated publication:
Lauriau, F., M. Nauta, N. Haddad, S. Strubbia, J.-M. Cappelier, M. Sandberg, S. Guillou and A. Foddai 2024. Harmonizing Campylobacter risk assessments across European countries – can the pooled process hygiene criteria data be used in the Danish risk assessment model? Microbial Risk Analysis 27-28: 100325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mran.2024.100325.

Scientific partners:
Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Kongens Lyngby – Denmark
Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen – Denmark