News Within the CARDS project „Strengthening Sanitary Inspection“ Finish experts visited CFA Within the project „Strengthening Sanitary Inspection“, strategy for effective and transparent laboratory network for official control and effective information exchange based on RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed), CID (Central Information Desk) and IT (Information Technology) equipment implementation will be developed. Finish team was leaded by Mr. Pekka Pakkala, Chief of the Health Protection Unite, in Finish National Food Agency, and Mrs. Tarja Lehtonen, Senior Veterinary Officer, Veterinary Border Inspection Unite, Finish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The main topics at the meeting were role of the CFA in food safety system, RASFF, information exchange and IT equipment. Read more... Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) - no risk for food safety According to the World Organization for Animal Health, OIE there is no risk for human health with consumption of any meat product from poultry origin (chilled and deep frozen carcasses, eggs and eggs products) from countries affected by bird flu. Viruses of avian influenza are inactivated by temperatures of 70*C. OIE and WHO have stressed the importance of good hygienic practice such as hand washing and proper cooking in dealing with products from poultry origin. Bacteries in chickens – CFA's statement on possible risk for consumer’s health According to unofficial approximation there are 6 to 10 pecent of chicken in Croatia infected by salmonella, but in order to get more precise data an exact analyses has to be undertaken. Hygienic conditions in poultry plants are of extreme importance. Great advantage in control of salmonella bacteries are high temperatures. In case that all bacteries are not inactivated by high temperatures, they multiply on room temperature in very short time. The most dangerous part of meat is one around bone, improperly cooked and left on room temperature. Often people get infected by salmonella without any special symptoms and become dangerous for other consumers when dealing with food. Last year, The Croatian Institute of Veterinary Medicine made 2.884 different analyses of food safety on poultry meat. Food contamination with salmonella in Croatia takes first place with 58 percent of all microbial foodborn infections. Possibility of swine fever in Županja region – no risk for consumer health Considering statement of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management from 11 August 2005, about possibility of swine fever in village Soljani, Županja, veterinarians have taken samples from suspected pigs and preceded them to the Croatian Institute of Veterinary Medicine. The Institute will address public with exact information based on the results of analyses. Since swine fever is not zoonoses, i.e. it doesn’t affect humans, consumers of pork can be sure they won’t be infected by this virus if they by any case eat meat from infected animals. However, secondary infections by sick animals are common, so there is certain possibility that other bacteries can harm consumer’s health. 1 WWW HAH.HR         Distribution of articles is allowed with reference to the source, except for commercial purposes.