Update of the list of qualified presumption of safety (QPS) recommended microbiological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 22: Suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until March 2025.

The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) process was developed to assess the safety of microorganisms used in food and feed chains. During the period covered by this Statement, no new information warranted changes to the status of previously recommended QPS taxonomic units. The QPS list was updated to verify the correctness of the names and the completeness of synonyms.

Ceftazidime-avibactam resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae: A growing public health concern across diverse sublineages, 2019-2024.

Objectives: Strains resistant to last-line β-lactam antibiotics pose a global public health threat, requiring close monitoring and action. This study investigated ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) resistance rates among Klebsiella pneumoniae infection isolates from northern Portugal in a 6-year period.

Methods: A total of 539 carbapenem-resistant or KPC-positive K.

Diverse Acinetobacter in retail meat: a hidden vector of novel species and antimicrobial resistance genes, including plasmid-borne bla, mcr-4.3 and tet(X3).

Acinetobacter species, particularly Acinetobacter baumannii, are recognized pathogens in clinical settings, yet their presence in food systems, including fresh meat remains underexplored. This comprehensive study investigated the prevalence, diversity, concentration, and antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter spp. in 100 fresh meat samples from diverse animal sources across various packaging conditions.

Real-time FT-IR typing of Klebsiella pneumoniae: a flexible and rapid approach for outbreak detection and infection control.

Background: Expansion of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CP-Kp) is driven by within-hospital transmission, requiring timely typing data for effective infection control.

Objectives: We evaluated real-time performance and flexibility of our previously developed Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy workflow (spectra acquisition and analysis by machine-learning model).

Methods: All CP-Kp infection isolates (n = 136) identified at a northern Portuguese hospital (April 2022-March 2023) were tested from Columbia agar with 5% sheep blood, identified by FT-IR (KL-type/sublineage) and confirmed by reference methods (wzi sequencing, MLST and/or WGS).

Effect of incineration, co-incineration and combustion on TSE hazards in category 1 animal by-products.

The European Commission requested EFSA to assess the effect of incineration, co-incineration and combustion of Category 1 animal by-products (ABP) on the BSE/TSE hazards in ash resulting from these treatments. The presence of residual TSE hazards is assessed by detection of prion infectivity or seeding activity. TSE agents or prions are challenging to inactivate completely using heat-based methods.

Persistence of mcr-1-carrying E. coli in rabbit meat production: Challenges beyond long-term colistin withdrawal.

Colistin, a last-resort antibiotic in human medicine, has been banned in European food animal production to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. This study investigates the long-term effects of the colistin ban on the occurrence and genomic features (WGS) of colistin-resistant, mcr-carrying Escherichia coli across intensive rabbit farms (8 farms, ~600 animals/farm, fecal and farm environmental samples) in the north and center of Portugal. Colistin-resistant E.

Evaluation of a fluidised catalytic cracking co-processing method for the production of renewable fuels using Category 3 animal fat and used cooking oils.

An alternative processing method for the production of renewable fuels from rendered animal fats, pretreated using standard processing methods 1-5 or method 7 and used cooking oils, derived from Category 3 animal by-products, was assessed. The alternative method is based on a fluidised catalytic cracking co-processing treatment with a preheat stage by at least 145°C and a pressure of at least 1.4 barg for at least 13 s, followed by a reactor stage by at least 500°C for 2 s.

Insights towards the impact of subinhibitory chlorhexidine on antimicrobial susceptibility and horizontal gene transfer in Enterococcus faecium.

Enterococcus faecium, a human and animal commensal broadly distributed in the environment, is currently one of the most challenging multidrug-resistant (MDR) healthcare-associated pathogens worldwide. It is often exposed to chlorhexidine (CHX), a broad-spectrum antiseptic, extensively used in healthcare, domestic, and food production settings, and a diffused polluter. However, the impact of gradients of CHX concentrations, including at subinhibitory levels, on E.

BIOHAZ scientific opinion on the equivalence of an alternative heat treatment process of feathers and down.

The European Commission requested EFSA to provide a scientific opinion on the equivalence between the heat treatment process of feathers and down with dry heat to a temperature of 100°C for 30 min and the treatment set up in Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, in terms of inactivation of relevant pathogens. To be considered at least equivalent to the methods in the legislation, the alternative method should be able to reduce the concentration of or Senftenberg by at least 5 log and the infectious titre of and by at least 3 log. An extensive literature search (ELS) was conducted to identify studies in which the log reduction or the D value of the indicators were determined after dry heating in matrices with low moisture/water activity.

Evaluation of an alkaline hydrolysis method under atmospheric pressure for Category 1 animal by-products.

A new alternative method for the processing of entire bodies or body parts of pet animals (Category 1 animal by-products (ABPs)) was assessed. The method consists of an alkaline hydrolysis process under atmospheric pressure carried out in a batch system within a stainless-steel container at temperatures higher than 95.5°C for more than 14 h.

Microbiological hazards associated with the use of water in the post-harvest handling and processing operations of fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables and herbs (ffFVH). Part 5 (Frozen FVH process water management plan).

Water used in post-harvest handling and processing operations is an important risk factor for microbiological cross-contamination of fruits, vegetables and herbs (FVH). Industrial data indicated that the frozen FVH sector is characterised by operational cycles between 8 and 120 h, variable product volumes and no control of the temperature of process water. Intervention strategies were limited to the use of water disinfection treatments such as peroxyacetic acid and hydrogen peroxide.

Microbiological hazards associated with the use of water in the post-harvest handling and processing operations of fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables and herbs (ffFVH). Part 2 - A dynamic mass balance model for handling and processing operations in ffFVH using water.

A dynamic mass balance model was developed to simulate contamination dynamics in the process water of fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables and herbs (ffFVH) during processing and handling operations. The mass balance relates to the flux of water and product in a wash tank and the number of microbial cells released in the water, inactivated by the water disinfectant or transferred from the water back to the product. Critical variables describing microbial dynamics in water are: (i) the chemical oxygen demand (COD), as an indicator of the concentration of organic matter; (ii) free chlorine (FC) and particularly its antimicrobial fraction, hypochlorous acid (HOCl); and (iii) the microbial population levels.

Microbiological hazards associated with the use of water in the post-harvest handling and processing operations of fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables and herbs (ffFVH). Part 4 (fresh-cut FVH process water management plan).

Water used in post-harvest handling and processing operations is an important risk factor for microbiological cross-contamination of fruits, vegetables and herbs (FVH). Industrial data indicated that the fresh-cut FVH sector is characterised by process water at cooled temperature, operational cycles between 1 and 15 h, and product volumes between 700 and 3000 kg. Intervention strategies were based on water disinfection treatments mostly using chlorine-based disinfectants.

Microbiological hazards associated with the use of water in the post-harvest handling and processing operations of fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables and herbs (ffFVH). Part 3 (Fresh-whole FVH process water management plan).

Water used in post-harvest handling and processing operations is an important risk factor for microbiological cross-contamination of fruits, vegetables and herbs (FVH). Industrial data indicated that the fresh-whole FVH sector is characterised by very variable operational cycle duration (between 8 and 900 h), large product volumes (e.g.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium: A current perspective on resilience, adaptation, and the urgent need for novel strategies.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) has become a critical opportunistic pathogen, urgently requiring new antimicrobial strategies due to its rising prevalence and significant impact on patient safety and healthcare costs. VREfm continues to evolve through mutations and the acquisition of new genes via horizontal gene transfer, contributing to resistance against several last-resort antibiotics. Although primarily hospital-associated, VREfm are also detected in the community, food chain, livestock, and environmental sources like wastewater, indicating diverse transmission pathways and the need for a One Health approach.

Update of the list of qualified presumption of safety (QPS) recommended microbiological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 21: Suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until September 2024.

The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) process was developed to provide a safety assessment approach for microorganisms intended for use in food or feed chains. In the period covered by this Statement, no new information was found that would change the status of previously recommended QPS taxonomic units (TUs). The TUs in the QPS list were updated based on a verification, against their respective authoritative databases, of the correctness of the names and completeness of synonyms.

The healthy human gut can take it all: vancomycin-variable, linezolid-resistant strains and specific bacteriocin-species interplay in spp.

spp. are opportunistic human pathogens colonizing the human gut and a significant reservoir for the continuous adaptation of hospital clones. However, studies on the features of enterococci species co-colonizing healthy individuals are scarce.

Re-evaluation of certain aspects of the EFSA Scientific Opinion of April 2010 on risk assessment of parasites in fishery products, based on new scientific data. Part 2.

The objective of this opinion was to determine if any wild caught fish species, originating from specific fishing grounds and consumed in the EU/EFTA could be considered free of zoonotic parasites. In this Opinion the term 'fishery products' only refers to fresh finfish. As there are multiple fish species and numerous potential parasites, sp.

Diverse genomic and epidemiological landscapes of redundant pbp5 genes in Enterococcus spp.: Insights into plasmid mobilization, ampicillin susceptibility, and environmental interactions.

Genetic redundancy in bacteria plays a crucial role in enhancing adaptability and accelerating evolution in response to selective pressures, particularly those associated with rapid environmental changes. Aminopenicillins like ampicillin are important therapeutic options for Enterococcus infections in both humans and animals, with resistance mostly associated with pbp5 gene mutations or overexpression. While the occurrence of redundant pbp5 genes has been occasionally reported, the advantages for the host bacteria have not been explored in detail.

Bacteriocin distribution patterns in and : bioinformatic analysis using a tailored genomics framework.

Unlabelled: Multidrug-resistant strains represent a major concern due to their ability to thrive in diverse environments and cause life-threatening infections. While antimicrobial resistance and virulence mechanisms have been extensively studied, the contribution of bacteriocins to 's adaptability remains poorly explored. , within the Bacillota phylum, is a prominent bacteriocin producer.

Performance of Flow Cytometry-Based Rapid Assay in Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales are increasingly being recognized in nosocomial infections. The performance of a flow cytometry-based rapid assay for their detection and differentiation was evaluated. This is a disruptive phenotypic technology, phenotypic and growth-independent, that searches for the lesions produced by drugs acting on cells after a short incubation time.

Update of the list of qualified presumption of safety (QPS) recommended microbiological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 20: Suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until March 2024.

The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) process was developed to provide a safety assessment approach for microorganisms intended for use in food or feed chains. In the period covered by this statement, no new information was found that would change the status of previously recommended QPS TUs. The TUs in the QPS list were updated based on a verification, against their respective authoritative databases, of the correctness of the names and completeness of synonyms.

BSE risk posed by ruminant collagen and gelatine derived from bones.

The European Commission requested an estimation of the BSE risk (C-, L- and H-BSE) from gelatine and collagen derived from ovine, caprine or bovine bones, and produced in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, or Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and its implementing Regulation (EU) No 142/2011. A quantitative risk assessment was developed to estimate the BSE infectivity, measured in cattle oral infectious dose 50 (CoID), in a small size batch of gelatine including one BSE-infected bovine or ovine animal at the clinical stage. The model was built on a scenario where all ruminant bones could be used for the production of gelatine and high-infectivity tissues remained attached to the skull (brain) and vertebral column (spinal cord).