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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46756/sci.fsa.dlx496

 

ACMSF Annual Report

Advises the Food Standards Agency on the Microbiological Safety of Food

The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) was established in 1990 to provide the Government with independent expert advice on the microbiological safety of food.

The Committee’s terms of reference are:

to assess the risk to humans from microorganisms which are used, or occur, in or on food, and to advise the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on any matters relating to the microbiological safety of food.

The various issues addressed by the Committee since its inception are detailed in this and previous Annual Reports1-28 and in a series of subject-specific reports.

Foreword

Prof Bill Keevil

The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) was established in 1990 to provide the Government with independent expert advice on the microbiological safety of food. The Committee’s terms of reference are:

“To assess the risk to humans from microorganisms which are used, or occur, in or on food, and to advise the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on any matters relating to the microbiological safety of food”

It gives me pleasure to present a report of the ACMSF’s activities in 2021. This report summarises the work of the full Committee and its subgroups for calendar year 2021. Details of meeting agendas, minutes and papers presented at plenary meetings are available on ACMSF’s webpage.

In 2021, the Committee established a subgroup to consider the risk posed by botulinum toxin-producing Clostridia in food. It is expected that the group will deliver its report in 2023.

As requested by the FSA, we provided advice on the following areas:

  • Botulism in cattle, sheep and goats
  • Framework on tackling foodborne disease
  • Food and You 2 – Wave 1
  • Campylobacter source attribution study
  • ACMSF’s horizon scanning output report

ACMSF was updated on the activities of the Epidemiology of Foodborne Infections Group. EFIG brings together human, food and veterinary epidemiological and microbiological information that can be investigated and discussed at UK and country level.

At the request of the FSA, ACMSF subgroups provided advice on the following areas: shortage of gaseous carbon dioxide used in packaging of food, including the impacts on microbiological safety (Clostridia in food), risk-based considerations associated with consumption of human placenta (Newly Emerging Pathogens) and survey reports in relation antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the food chain (Surveillance and Antimicrobial Resistance). In addition, the AMR Working Group approved the FSA’s risk assessments on mcr-positive E. coli containing mcr gene variants in retail chicken meat and on colistin resistant E. coli carrying the mcr-1 and mcr-3 genes in fresh retail turkey meat purchased in the UK. This group also reviewed the FSA’s future surveillance of AMR in retail foods.

Looking ahead, particularly with the uncertainties in the food supply chain, we will endeavour to continue to respond promptly with advice on the food safety implications on issues referred to the Committee by the FSA.

I should like to thank members of the Committee and its subgroups (including co-opted members), without whom the ACMSF would not have operated effectively in 2021.

 

Professor Bill Keevil

Chair

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