The purpose of this discussion document is to collate and review information from overseas and New Zealand regarding bacterial pathogens in dried ready-to-eat (RTE) meats.

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that infects warm blooded animals.

Improvements in the sensitivity and scope of analytical methods have enabled the detection of chemicals in wastewater and the aquatic receiving environment, which were previously undetectable or could not be quantified.

The Risk Profile on microplastics in the New Zealand diet identified that the characteristics and levels of chemical contaminants associated with microplastics in New Zealand are unknown and requires further research in order to assess the risk to human health. Research programmes are now underway in New Zealand to specifically investigate if microplastics are a food safety concern.

keywords; microplastics, nanoplastics, emerging contaminants, environmental contaminant

This risk profile on ciguatoxins in seafood is an update of the 2007 risk profile. Although there is no evidence that ciguatoxic fish is currently being caught for consumption in New Zealand, climate change might change the geographic distribution of the ciguatoxin producing organism.

The purpose of a Risk Profile is to provide contextual and background information relevant
to a food/hazard combination so that risk managers can make decisions and, if necessary,
take further action. Risk Profiles include elements of a qualitative risk assessment, as well as providing information relevant to risk management. Risk profiling may result in a range of activities e.g. immediate risk management action, a decision to conduct a quantitative risk assessment, or a programme to gather more data. Risk Profiles also provide information for ranking of food safety issues.

The aim of this report is to describe the epidemiology, investigation and control of a hepatitis A (HAV) outbreak in New Zealand. Descriptive and analytical epidemiology, virology, product traceback and an orchard investigation were carried out. A case-control study involving 39 cases revealed that 56% of cases had consumed raw blueberries, as compared with 14% of controls (odds ratio 7.6; 95% confidence intervals 2.6 – 22.4).

The purpose of a Risk Profile is to provide contextual and background information relevant to a food/hazard combination so that risk managers can make decisions and, if necessary, take further action. Risk Profiles include elements of a qualitative risk assessment, as well as providing information relevant to risk management. Risk profiling may result in a range of activities e.g. immediate risk management action, a decision to conduct a quantitative risk assessment, or a programme to gather more data, ranking of a particular food safety issue.

The purpose of a Risk Profile is to provide contextual and background information relevant
to a food/hazard combination so that risk managers can make decisions and, if necessary,
take further action. The place of a risk profile in the risk management process is described in “Food Administration in New Zealand: A Risk Management Framework for Food Safety”
(Ministry of Health/Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2000). Figure 1 outlines the risk
management process.

This Risk Profile considers Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in raw milk from
cows, sheep, goats and buffaloes. Infection by C. jejuni or C. coli in humans usually results
in a self-limiting gastroenteritis which may or may not involve bloody diarrhoea. In a small
proportion of cases infection may progress to more serious autoimmune disorders or chronic
gastrointestinal diseases. On rare occasions infection may result in death.

The purpose of a Risk Profile is to provide information relevant to a food/hazard combination
so that risk managers can make decisions and, if necessary, take further action. Risk Profiles
include elements of a qualitative risk assessment, as well as providing information relevant to
risk management.

The NZFSA Statement of Intent 2008-2011 identifies control of Listeria monocytogenes as a strategic priority, with the performance indicator being no increase in cases of listeriosis after five years. This Risk Profile is intended to help inform the NZFSA Listeria monocytogenes Risk Management Strategy, and to provide a scientific underpinning for associated risk management measures. It is an update of a previous document completed in 2002, and describes the risk to New Zealand consumers from Listeria monocytogenes in processed ready-to-eat meats.

The purpose of a Risk Profile is to provide contextual and background information relevant
to a food/hazard combination so that risk managers can make decisions and, if necessary,
take further action. The place of a Risk Profile in the risk management process is described in “Food Administration in New Zealand: A Risk Management Framework for Food Safety” (Ministry of Health/Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2000). Figure 1 outlines the risk management process.

The purpose of a Risk Profile is to provide contextual and background information relevant
to a food/hazard combination so that risk managers can make decisions and, if necessary,
take further action. Risk Profiles are part of the Risk Management Framework
(http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/about-us/risk-management-framework/index.htm) approach taken
by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA).