ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the known transmission pathways for VTEC O157 from a bovine reservoir to a human host. Critical control points have been identified within the transmission pathways. For each critical control point the legislative and practical control measures have been discussed. Also, the agencies involved in maintaining the control points are indicated. Policies for preventing human infection with VTEC O157 are formulated at international, national and local levels. For each control point, recommendations for control suggested by the following groups are reported:
• Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food • Task Force on E.coli • The Pennington Group • World Health Organization
ACMSF
The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) was set up by UK Health and Agriculture Ministers in 1990 in response to a recommendation in the report of the Richmond Committee on the Microbiological safety of Food. Its terms of reference are:
To assess the risk to humans of micro-organisms which are used, or occur, in or on food, and to advise Ministers on the exercise of powers in the Food Safety Act 1990 relating to the microbiological safety of food.
