title: Salmonella typhimurium in the Australian egg industry: Multidisciplinary approach to addressing the public health challenge and future directions.
abstract: In Australia, numerous egg-related human Salmonella typhimurium outbreaks have prompted significant interest among public health authorities and the egg industry to jointly address this human health concern. Nationwide workshops on Salmonella and eggs were conducted in Australia for egg producers and regulatory authorities. State and national regulators represented Primary Production, Communicable Disease Control, Public Health and Food Safety, and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand. All attendees participated in discussions aimed at evaluating current evidence-based information, issues related to quality of egg production, and how to ensure safe eggs in the supply chain, identifying research gaps and practical recommendations. The perceptions from egg producers and regulatory authorities from various states were recorded during the workshops. We presented the issues discussed during the workshops, including Salmonella in the farm environment, Salmonella penetration across eggshell, virulence in humans, food/egg handling in the supply chain, and intervention strategies. We also discussed the perceptions from egg producers and regulators. Recommendations placed emphasis on the future research needs, communication between industry and regulatory authorities, and education of food handlers. Communication between regulators and industry is pivotal to control egg-borne S. typhimurium outbreaks, and collaborative efforts are required to design effective and appropriate control strategies.
authors.affiliation: a School of Animal and Veterinary Science , The University of Adelaide , Roseworthy , South Australia , Australia.
authors.forename: Kapil K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chousalkar
authors.affiliation: b Primary Industries and Regions , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sexton
authors.affiliation: a School of Animal and Veterinary Science , The University of Adelaide , Roseworthy , South Australia , Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McWhorter
authors.affiliation: c Australian Egg Corporation Limited , North Sydney, Sydney , New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hewson
authors.affiliation: d Food and Controlled Drugs Branch , SA Health , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: e NSW Food Authority , Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shadbolt
authors.affiliation: f Food Safety Unit , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D004528:Egg Shell; D004531:Eggs / Q000382:microbiology*; D005506:Food Contamination; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Eggs; Salmonella typhimurium; communication; food handling; hens