dimanche 15 novembre 2015

French Frozen Blueberries Contaminated with Norovirus

Paris, 13 November 2015



As written in May 2015 already, blueberries can be easily contaminated with viruses, and specifically NOROVIRUS. The latest RASFF alerts concerning french blueberries with raw material from Ukraine reminds us of the viral risk associated with Berries.


Norovirus, top foodborne virus


Norovirus in 2015 is the only viral pathogen detected in the 19 notifications, both in fruits and shellfish. Fruits at mid-year represent 40% of the food.


Fruits contaminated by Norovirus


Strawberries, Blueberries and Raspberries are the three different fruits in which were found the foodborne norovirus, as we already indicated in our previous post.

Impacted countries for foodborne viruses


Denmark, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Chile, Germany, France, Sweden, Serbia, Vietnam, Egypt, Austria, Monaco, Luxembourg, USA, Cyprus  are the various countries potentially impacted by Norovirus.

Norovirus and Fruits


62% of the virus contaminated products (RASFF) were due to norovirus in 2014.
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that can infect anyone. You can get it from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed. This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up. [Source CDC]

Food-borne viruses and EFSA


In 2014, EFSA published a Scientific Opinion on the risk posed by pathogens in food of non-animal origin. Part 2 (Salmonella and Norovirus in berries). 

…Microbiological criteria for Norovirus in berries are useful for validation and verification of food safety management systems, including HACCP-based processes and procedures… [Source EFSA]

Food-borne viruses and Solutions


Find out more about the solutions offered by ceeram to monitor food- and water-borne viruses in Food and Environmental Samples, and discover our range of services to better understand this risk. www.ceeram.com

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