In a company that used beef heads for the production of fresh meat and minced meat, violations of food safety legislation have been found. BuRO was asked to assess the microbial risks that may have arisen from these violations. BuRO concludes that the risk of prions (BSE) for human safety through food and safety of pet animals through pet food is negligible. The risk of other microbiological food safety hazards is also estimated to be negligible. This is based on the assumption that the fresh meat and minced meat from this company are processed into heated meat products in approved food establishments. BuRO also concludes that ensuring control measures throughout the beef chain remains of great importance for the food and feed safety of processed beef heads.

Motivation for the research

In a criminal investigation into fraud, the NVWA has found serious violations at a Dutch company that used beef heads and offal for the production of fresh meat and minced meat. The violations may result in microbial risks to human and pet health. The products of the company were used by other companies for the production of, among others, meat products for human consumption and for the production of (raw) pet food for consumption by pet animals.

BuRO has been asked by the NVWA to assess the microbial risks that may have arisen from the actions of the company concerned. To this end, BuRO has divided the risk assessment into two parts. The first part focused on the risks of prions (BSE) to food and feed safety. BSE is the abbreviation for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, better known as mad cow disease. The second part examined the remaining microbial risks to food safety.

BSE

During the processing of beef heads for the production of fresh meat and minced meat, it was found that brain material was present on beef heads. Brain material from cattle is considered to be a risk material for BSE prions, which may have infected the head meat with prions. As a result, there may be a chance of transmission to humans and pet animals who have eaten products made from this meat. Due to strict legislation and regulations, which prevent BSE prions from entering the feed and food chain, there is currently only a very low probability that BSE prions are present in the feed and food chain.

Other microbial hazards

The other microbiological hazards relevant to this case are spoilage-causing microorganisms and bacterial pathogens. It is likely that, as a result of the violations observed, these micro-organisms may have been present in excessive numbers, in particular in the minced meat produced by this company.

Risk assessment conclusions

Risk of BSE to human and pet health

The risk of BSE to human health is assessed at a negligible low probability, due to the current control measures against BSE. To this end, BSE control measures must be ensured throughout the entire beef chain.

Also for cats, under the current BSE control measures, the health risk of BSE has been assessed at a negligible low probability. For dogs, that probability is even estimated to be zero.

Other microbial risks to human health

It is likely that the microbiological risk arising from the company’s operations is adequately controlled by the customers of the company. These are approved food establishments that apply a pasteurisation process and use the minced meat and fresh meat for the production of meat products.

The fact remains that for the production of food raw materials have been used by the company that are not intended for human consumption. Thereby, the company has placed foodstuffs on the market that are unfit for human consumption.