Microbial Food Safety Assessment of Organic Food and Feed: Notifications in the EU RASFF during 2020–2022. A Systematic Review

Abstract

The presence of pathogenic bacteria in organic feed and food is a topic of current subject of study due to concerns that certain organic practices may heighten the risk of contamination and contribute to the spread of foodborne pathogens. The primary objective of this research is to analyze the main microbial contaminants exclusively associated with organic products, as reported in the literature. The search and selection of suitable studies were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Databases consulted included Web of Science Core Collection, Medline (PudMed) database, and UE Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) database. Using the EU RASFF System, we have summarized the notifications in relation to these products during the last 3 years in Europe. Eligibility criteria were studies published in English between 2000 and 2022. All authors performed critical appraisal and independent data extraction. Analysis of RASFF notifications related to organic products over the period from January 2020 to October 2022 revealed that 61.7% of notifications were related to food, while only 38.2% were related to feed. Salmonella emerged as the predominant pathogen reported in both organic food and feed. Notably, only one food outbreak linked to Salmonella Enteritidis in eggs was reported during the study period. Among food commodities, seeds were the most frequently affected, with the highest percentage of food products with alerts originating from India. Regarding antimicrobial resistance, a noteworthy trend was observed, with a decrease in multidrug-resistant strains favoring organic production compared to conventional methods. In conclusion, this research aimed to investigate the presence of pathogenic bacteria in organic feed and food, considering the potential risk factors associated with organic practices and their implications for food safety.