A unique workshop focussed on improving laboratory methods with the aim of them being able to confirm whether or not STEC is present in a food within its shelf life was held in November. Instigated by CFA in response to STEC outbreaks (CFA News 62), the workshop was attended by 80 food producers including growers, government agencies and researchers, and followed CFA’s call for a review of the suitability of STEC test methods and the interpretation of non-confirmed findings.
A briefing document drafted by CFA with SRUC, shared widely in industry, the trade and agencies, was taken forward by CFA through the Food Safety Research Network. Karin Goodburn set the scene with outcomes of a survey of members and retailers regarding testing issues. Karin comments: “The development of improved/novel STEC detection methods that are faster to arrive at a confirmed result, less open to interpretation and false positives and cheaper, were agreed to be a priority – albeit a challenging one. As a result of the workshop, workstreams aiming to resolve the issues are being established, with CFA’s MGG4 addressing a number of them.”
FSRN’s Workshop report is to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.
April 2025