New pathogens in the food industry

Abstract

A “new generation" of food pathogens has emerged which can cause problems in the food industry. These organisms are very adapt­able and existing food processing techniques are not always effective in controlling their growth, especially the refrigeration of the food. Clostridium botulinum type E, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Aeromonas hydrophila are capable of growing in food below 5 °C. Campylobacter jejuni and Brucella can survive at 5 °C and a third group of organisms namely Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus may grow or survive at temperatures between 5 °C and 12 °C and their presence is an indication of the interruption of the cold chain.