TY - RPRT
T1 - Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards on the Evaluation of the efficacy of peroxyacids for use as an antimicrobial substance applied on poultry carcasses
T2 - EFSA-Q-2005-106A
AU - EFSA Publication
AU - Nørrung, Birgit
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - The European Commission requested EFSA to evaluate the efficacy of peroxyacids as
an antimicrobial substance applied to poultry carcasses. Particularly, the BIOHAZ
panel was asked to assess the efficacy of the peroxyacids on the growth and/or
prevalence of some microorganisms and pathogens on poultry carcasses.
The efficacy of peroxyacids was difficult to assess because the protocols submitted by
the company were not always fully explained. The design of experiments on
commercial processing lines did not allow assessment of the efficacy of peroxyacids,
only comparison of two different ways of treating visibly contaminated carcasses. In
addition the processing conditions did not reflect the conditions and practices in
Europe. In the trial on commercial processing lines Salmonella was the only pathogen
considered while data on thermophilic Campylobacter spp., which are the most
important pathogens of concern in poultry, were not provided. Two experiments were
adequately described but they were small laboratory experiments, not adequate to
demonstrate the efficacy of peroxyacids under commercial conditions.
Decontamination of poultry carcasses is generally intended to reduce the number
and/or prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms. However, according to the opinion
of Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measure related to Public Health (SCVPH,
2003) and to the European Commission, decontamination should only be used as an
additional measure to further reduce the load of pathogenic microorganisms and it
must not be used as a substitute for normal good hygienic practice. Moreover, the
experimental evaluation of the efficacy of peroxyacids must be under conditions
comparable to European industrial processing conditions and practices.
AB - The European Commission requested EFSA to evaluate the efficacy of peroxyacids as
an antimicrobial substance applied to poultry carcasses. Particularly, the BIOHAZ
panel was asked to assess the efficacy of the peroxyacids on the growth and/or
prevalence of some microorganisms and pathogens on poultry carcasses.
The efficacy of peroxyacids was difficult to assess because the protocols submitted by
the company were not always fully explained. The design of experiments on
commercial processing lines did not allow assessment of the efficacy of peroxyacids,
only comparison of two different ways of treating visibly contaminated carcasses. In
addition the processing conditions did not reflect the conditions and practices in
Europe. In the trial on commercial processing lines Salmonella was the only pathogen
considered while data on thermophilic Campylobacter spp., which are the most
important pathogens of concern in poultry, were not provided. Two experiments were
adequately described but they were small laboratory experiments, not adequate to
demonstrate the efficacy of peroxyacids under commercial conditions.
Decontamination of poultry carcasses is generally intended to reduce the number
and/or prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms. However, according to the opinion
of Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measure related to Public Health (SCVPH,
2003) and to the European Commission, decontamination should only be used as an
additional measure to further reduce the load of pathogenic microorganisms and it
must not be used as a substitute for normal good hygienic practice. Moreover, the
experimental evaluation of the efficacy of peroxyacids must be under conditions
comparable to European industrial processing conditions and practices.
M3 - Report
T3 - the EFSA Journal
BT - Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards on the Evaluation of the efficacy of peroxyacids for use as an antimicrobial substance applied on poultry carcasses
PB - European Food Safety Authority
ER -
