The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) has published its extensive review of viruses in the food chain, and the FSA has issued its Chief Scientific Advisor’s first Science Report, also focusing on foodborne viruses.
The ACMSF, an independent advisory committee which provides expert advice to the FSA, set up a group to revisit the issue of foodborne viruses in light of developments in this area. The final report considered the most important viruses associated with foodborne infections - norovirus, hepatitis A, and hepatitis E.
The report makes a number of recommendations for government departments, including the need for more research in certain areas, and for clear advice for consumers, for example on cooking shellfish and pork products and information on washing leafy green vegetables and soft fruit.
In anticipation of the publication of the ACMSF review, the topic of foodborne viruses was chosen for the first report from the FSA’s Chief Scientific Advisor. These regular updates from Professor Guy Poppy will aim to give a greater understanding of the FSA’s science, with each edition focusing on a topical scientific issue.
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