Cronobacter sakazakii advice, policy and research in Canada
Editor's Note: We return to one of the presentations made at last January's Dublin conference on Cronobacter sakazakii. This one by Dr. Jeff Farber of Health Canada.
Biography: Dr Jeffrey M. Farber gained an MSc and PhD from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, in Medical Microbiology & Immunology and Food Microbiology respectively. He worked as a research scientist and as Division Chief in the Microbiology Research Division before becoming Associate-Director of the Bureau of Microbial Hazards Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada where he is currently the Director. Dr Farber`s major interests are Listeria monocytogenes, Enterobacter sakazakii in foods, produce safety, molecular typing, food safety risk assessment and policy. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Food Microbiology; a reviewer for a number of other Journals; and Content Editor for IAFP Report. He is also an Adjunct Professor, at the University of Ottawa where he co-supervise undergraduate and graduate students; sits on a number of graduate student advisory committees; and is a member of thesis committees. Dr Farber is the treasurer of the International Commission on the Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF), and is a Past-President of the International Association for Food Protection.
Cronobacter sakazakii advice, policy and research in Canada
Although Canada has not had many reported cases of Cronobacter sakazakii, Health Canada has been actively studying this organism since 1998. In 2002, as a result of an outbreak in Tennessee in the USA, Health Canada issued an advisory to inform Health Professionals in Canada what measures they could take to reduce the risk to infants, of consuming powdered-infant formula (PIF).
After reviewing the situation at the national level and due to health concerns with powdered formulae and its international trade, in 2003, Health Canada raised this issue at the international level by proposing to revise the Code of Practice for Powdered Formulae for Infants and Young Children at the Codex Alimentarius Committee of Food Hygiene.
Canada volunteered to chair the Working Group that would be developing the Code. Because of the high level of interest in this issue, the Code was completed in four years, which is a relatively short time considering the complexity and politics behind this issue. The Code has contributed to a big improvement in the hygienic conditions in plants manufacturing PIF, resulting in a lower level of product contamination with C. sakazakii. Canada has produced a document detailing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for Infant Formula in Canada.
The purpose of this text is to establish and document the current GMPs for the production and quality control of infant formula products made for distribution in Canada. Health Canada uses the GMPs as a basis on which to assess the manufacturing information received in pre-market notifications for new or changed infant formulas.
Health Canada does have microbiological criteria for C. sakazakii in PIF; however, they are currently being revised to be more in line with recent Codex thinking. At present, unfortunately, there are no active or passive surveillance systems for C. sakazakii, in Canada, although this has been discussed.
Health Canada has recently adapted and condensed FAO/WHO guidelines to develop a draft guidance document on the preparation and handling of PIF in home and hospitals/care settings, which outline requirements for parents, caregivers, and staff in hospitals and day-care centers. The guidance document can be used to educate parents, caregivers and staff in hospitals and day-care centres, on the potential hazards associated with PIF.
Health Canada’s Bureau of Microbial Hazards conducts research focussed at examining the ecology, biology and pathogenesis of the organism. Some of the research projects include specific aspects of molecular typing, virulence studies involving animal models, as well as in-vitro tissue culture work to examine adhesion and invasion. Collaborative research is also being done with the National Research Council, using NMR and mass spectroscopy to reveal the structure of the O- polysaccharide of the various Cronobacter species. For more, see his Powerpoint.
