A review of quantitative microbial risk assessment in the management of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on beef

Since Escherichia coli O157:H7 first emerged as a food borne pathogen in the mid 1980s, it has been linked to many cases of food poisoning across the world. While multiple sources and routes of transmission for this pathogen are now recognised, beef and beef products remain an important vehicle of the pathogen and continue to be linked to outbreaks across the developed world. Much research has been directed at E. coli O157:H7 transmission, survival and control in the beef chain and this paper presents an overview of current knowledge on this pathogen in the beef chain from primary production through slaughter, processing, distribution, final preparation and cooking. In order to strategically manage E. coli O157:H7 and to devise approaches to reduce the public health risk posed, many national and international groups have applied quantitative risk assessment techniques to model the risk posed by E. coli O157:H7 in beef, particularly in ground/minced beef which is most often linked with infection. This paper reviews these quantitative risk assessments and their application in managing the risk posed by E. coli O157:H7 in beef.