Risk assessment of campylobacter spp. In broiler chickens Interpretative summary Microbiological Risk Assessment Series, Vol. 11

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) assembled an expert drafting group to develop a risk assessment framework for Campylobacter spp. in broiler chickens. Initially, the risk management questions posed by the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) were the same as those that were addressed in the risk assessment for Salmonella in broiler chickens. The questions requested estimates for the risk of exposure and illness as a result of exposure to Campylobacter from broiler chicken products and the change in exposure and illness likely to occur following the implementation of different interventions in primary production, processing and food handling. The initial framework and the document “Draft Hazar d'Identification, Hazard Characterization and Exposure Assessment of Campylobacter spp. in broiler chickens” were presented to the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) for comment in October 2001, in Bangkok, Thailand. In March 2002, work began on completion of the risk characterization portion of the project. The culmination of this work is a risk assessment model and technical document “A Risk Assessment of Campylobacter spp. in Broiler Chickens.” The model and document include the risk characterization component to complete the risk assessment. Comparisons of risk for a variety of scenarios and mitigation measures were also conducted. The review and analysis of current scientific information and the risk model can be used by FAO and WHO member countries to conduct country specific risk assessments or to identify and collect the information and research needed to conduct a risk assessment for Campylobacter spp. in chicken products. This interpretative summary provides an overview of the assessment. The complete technical report of the risk assessment is available in volume 12 of the FAO/WHO Microbiological Risk Assessment Series.