EFSA and ECDC have just published the European Union summary report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2017: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/181212 It includes a chapter on Listeria (Chapter 3, p. 67-85) for whose drafting we have collaborated with EFSA. Cases of listeriosis decreased slightly in 2017: 2,480 infections were reported, against 2,509 in 2016. However, the trend has been upward over the past five years. The group most affected by the disease in 2017 were the elderly, particularly those over 84. In this age group, listeriosis fatality rate was 24%. The highest levels of L. monocytogenes were detected in fish and fishery products (6%), followed by ready-to-eat salads (4.2%).

EFSA and ECDC have just published the European Union summary report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2017: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/181212. In the chapter on food-borne outbreaks (Chapter 16, p. 209-250), data on FBOs due to bacterial toxins, including staphylococcal enterotoxins, can be found. In addition, a sub-chapter (17.2, p. 251-252) is dedicated to staphylococcal enterotoxins, being a microbiological contaminant covered by a food safety criterion in EC Regulation 2073/2005.

Déborah MERDA was invited by the Italian NRL, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte (IZSTo), to attend its annual workshop for their National official control laboratories (OCL). The Italian NRL presented different PTs performed along 2018. The OCL presented their recent staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks and their research project. The purpose of the attendance of Déborah MERDA was to present the EURL for CPS work on WGS and real time PCR method. These 2 methods aroused enthousiasm among the laboratories, some were even willing to implement them in their laboratory.  

Hélène BERGIS participated to the meeting of the WG 19 of ISO /TC 34/SC 9 in charge of writting the second part of ISO 20976-2 "Microbiology of the food chain - Guidelines for conducting challenge tests - Part 2: Inactivation". This meeting was held in Avignon (France) on 13-15 November. This working group is also in charge of drafting a standard on "Determination and use of cardinal values".

Alexandra CAUQUIL & Noémie VINGADASSALON organised a training session held at the EURL for CPS Maisons-Alfort (FR) on 15-16 November. This training session was dedicated to the detection of se genes in CPS strains by real-time PCR for 3 NLRs (LV, IS & MK). Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR" of Latvia (Lasma EGLITE), Matis ohf of Iceland (Anna Pala VIGNISDOTTIR), and Microbiology of food and feed of Macedonia (Marija RATKOVA).    

A training session was organised on 6-7 December in Maisons-Alfort (FR) by EURL for Lm (Hélène BERGIS, Ludivine BONANNO & Pauline ROBIN). It was dedicated to challenge tests assessing the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat food. This training session was requested by the Lithuanian NRL and the two trainees were Jovita PETRUSKEVICIENE & Audinga VERBICKIENE from the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute.    

Bertrand LOMBARD convened the 28th meeting of WG 2 Statistics of ISO/TC 34/SC 9 "Food products-Microbiology", held at Campden BRI, Campden UK, on 18-19 October. The main topic on the agenda was the revision of ISO/TS 19036, dealing with measurement uncertainty for quantitative determinations. This project is led by Basi JARVIS (Project Leader), Keith JEWEL and Paul IN'T VELD (co-Project Leaders). More precisely, WG 2 has given a follow-up to the ISO/CEN vote on ISO/DIS 19036. This vote had a very positive outcome with 100% approvals but with many comments. All comments have been reviewed, a new draft is being prepared by WG 2 which will be then submitted to final vote in 2019. It is expected that the revised standard be published by the end of 2019. Other topics have been also dealt, including statistical aspects related to method validation/verification (EN ISO 16140 series), validation of calculation tools.

Bertrand LOMBARD convened the 28th meeting of WG 2 Statistics of ISO/TC 34/SC 9 "Food products-Microbiology", held at Campden BRI, Campden UK, on 18-19 October. The main topic on the agenda was the revision of ISO/TS 19036, dealing with measurement uncertainty for quantitative determinations. This project is led by Basi JARVIS (Project Leader), Keith JEWEL and Paul IN'T VELD (co-Project Leaders). More precisely, WG 2 has given a follow-up to the ISO/CEN vote on ISO/DIS 19036. This vote had a very positive outcome with 100% approvals but with many comments. All comments have been reviewed, a new draft is being prepared by WG 2 which will be then submitted to final vote in 2019. It is expected that the revised standard be published by the end of 2019. Other topics have been also dealt, including statistical aspects related to method validation/verification (EN ISO 16140 series), validation of calculation tools.  

[relayed from EFSA & ECDC] This report of the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control presents the results of zoonoses monitoring activities carried out in 2017 in 37 European countries (28 Member States (MS) and nine non‐MS).

The working group composed by volunteering LNRs or representants of competent authorities from Italy, Belgium, Republic of Ireland, Netherlands met from 20 to 22 november in Maisons-Alfort. Ludivine BONANNO & Hélène BERGIS have chaired this meeting which aim was to finalise the training package for shelf life studies dedicated to Lm. We are happy to inform you that the package should by finalised by the end of the year.