Abstract
In the context of a risk-based meat inspection modernization, the change towards a visual only inspection of all hog mandibular lymph nodes (MLN) has been made in some countries and is considered in Canada. In fact, the current mandatory incision and visual inspection of all MLNs put in force a century ago to detect signs of infection by <em>Mycobacterium bovis</em> may no longer be relevant and may even generate cross-contamination by bacteria potentially pathogenic to humans. To support a science-based decision, a qualitative risk-benefit assessment following the European Food Safety Authority framework was undertaken for each inspection approach (with or without systematic incision). Both risk-benefit assessments led to similar results in concluding that the benefit of any MLN inspection for the detection of <em>M. bovis</em> infection in hogs is no longer existent. For the risk associated with this incision, data is lacking to differentiate the risk between both inspections on the qualitative scale chosen. In conclusion, the scientific opinion is that the replacement of the current systematic incision and visual inspection of all hog MLNs by a systematic visual-only inspection of all MLNs will not affect the food safety risks and in fact may reduce some of them.
Highlights
The main purpose of meat inspection is to detect and prevent public health hazards such as food-borne pathogens and chemical contaminants in meat
The exact share of the potential cross-contamination related to the mandibular lymph nodes (MLN) inspection on pork contamination at retail is unknown; it is reasonable to claim that this share is small and might decrease the exposure assessment by at least one level if not two, putting infection with Salmonella enterica under moderate risk and all other infections under the low risk, if not no risk at all (Table 9)
From the animal health perspective, such inspection may help in monitoring the occurrence of M. bovis infection in pigs, but this infection is null according to the results of the current MLN inspection and this is consistent with the fact that domestic cattle herds are free of M. bovis in Canada and that cattle and pigs are raised in different premises, avoiding the transmission of M. bovis between the two species when present in one herd
Summary
The main purpose of meat inspection is to detect and prevent public health hazards such as food-borne pathogens and chemical contaminants in meat. In Canada, the systematic incision and visual inspection of mandibular lymph nodes (MLN) of all pigs slaughtered under the federal regulation is mandatory and is undertaken by trained veterinary inspectors from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) This specific inspection operation was put in force decades ago in order to detect potential signs (e.g. granulomatous lymphadenitis) of infection by Mycobacterium bovis, an agent of tuberculosis in man and animals, mainly in cattle. In Canada, the CFIA has undertaken a general modernization process of the food safety rules and operations Under this science-based modernization, the following specific question has been raised, whether the incision and visual inspection of all hog MLNs can be replaced by a visual-only inspection and incision in case of visual abnormalities without increasing risks for food safety and human health. This study details the qualitative risk-benefit assessment undertaken for both the current MLN inspection and the proposed visual-only inspection to answer the question
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