Experts gather to tackle foodborne viruses

More than 130 experts on viruses in the food chain gathered at the first International Workshop on Foodborne Viruses at the Royal Society of Science in London.

The event was organised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to further understanding of viruses in the food chain and to identify key research priorities that will help scientists, industry and regulators manage the risk to consumers and protect public health.

Bacteria like E.coli and campylobacter are more usually associated with food poisoning, but viruses have been increasingly recognised as important causes of outbreaks. The most recent data available shows they were responsible for 19% of all foodborne outbreaks in the EU, causing more than 1,000 outbreaks and affecting about 8,700 people. The total number of foodborne outbreaks caused by viruses has been increasing since 2007.

Professor Guy Poppy, chief scientific adviser at the FSA, says, “Foodborne viruses present many challenges and this meeting has provided an excellent opportunity to identify the key research priorities that will impact on public health in Europe.

“This is just the start and we will need to work together internationally to target our resources to make progress in this increasingly important area.”