CAFIA is a state administration body subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture. It is a state authority responsible for supervision of safety, quality and labelling of foodstuffs.

Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority

CAFIA is a state administration body subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture. It is a state authority responsible for supervision of safety, quality and labelling of foodstuffs.

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Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic [open in new window]

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CAFIA Annual Report for 2002

03/12/2003

3. Inspection

3.3 Results of Control of Microbiological Requirements

The microbial contamination of food can be risky or cause harm to human health. A duly performed inspection, monitoring and the Rapid Alert System operated for the sake of the prevention from alimentary infections and intoxications lay the basis of public health protection. CAFIA, as a body of state surveillance over food, carried out inspections focusing on the compliance with the microbiological requirements for food laid down in a decree issued by the Ministry of Health No. 294/1997, Coll. of L., as amended.

The control of microbiological requirements was intent on the individual kinds of foodstuffs by the individual seasons of the year. As for the epidemiologically dangerous foodstuffs (such as cold meals and confectioneries) their sampling was carried out all the year through, with special emphasis laid on summer months.

Majority of the microbiological analyses were carried out in laboratories, but some assessments were done directly in the places of inspection (in shops, warehouses, etc.), such as the verification whether foodstuffs show any adverse changes caused by microbial actions or an undesirable growth of microorganisms (moulds visible by naked eye, wet rot).

In 2002 the controls performed in the place of inspection and in laboratories detected the total of 3,092 microbiologically nonconforming food samples (of which 1,299 were detected in places of inspection and 1,793 were detected in laboratories). The highest numbers of nonconforming samples were detected in commodities such as fresh vegetables (797), confectioneries (669), cold meals (580), fresh fruit (383) and meat – meat products (153).

Results of laboratory analyses

The microbiological laboratory analyses of food were performed in compliance with standards and methodological guidance notes valid in the Czech Republic. Of the total number of 7,995 food samples taken and brought to laboratories for microbiological analyses, altogether 1,793 samples (22.4 %) were identified as nonconforming in 2002. Of which 111 samples were detected as risky to human health, the other samples did not comply with the tolerated values only.

The highest numbers of nonconforming samples were usually detected in summer months. The most frequently presented cause of the non-compliance with the microbiological requirements was the determination of coliform bacteria and anaerobic mesophilic microorganisms (TNM – total number of microorganisms).

Monitoring

In addition to ordinary controls, also planned microbiological controls (monitoring) were included in the assessment of the level of microbiological purity. Every year specific groups of food are selected to be included in monitoring, which are known to have plaid a significant role as for the emergence of alimentary diseases. In order to prevent from infections and intoxications induced by foodstuffs, the monitoring includes also detection of bacterial agent of alimentary diseases, sporadically occurring in foodstuffs. The presences of staphylococcal bacterial toxins were monitored in 2002.

The scale of planned microbiological control carried out in 2002 was almost twice as large as in previous years. Within the scope of the microbiological control planned for 2002 the total of 870 samples were analysed, of which 265 (30.5 %) were assessed as nonconforming and 24 as risky to public health.

Table 3.3.1: Results of control of the microbiological requirements in foodstuffs. Number of nonconforming samples by the individual commodities

Commodity	Number of nonconforming samples assessed		Total
	in place of inspection	in laboratory
Dairy products	51	30	81
Poultry, eggs	5	13	18
Meat, meat products	41	112	153
Fish and aquatic animals	1	23	24
Processed fruit and vegetables	9	15	24
Spirit, liquors, yeast	0	10	10
Non-alcoholic beverages	0	50	50
Mill grain products	3	14	17
Grape Wine	0	100	100
Refrigerated products	0	13	13
Baked products	29	28	57
Cold meals	1	579	580
Confectionaries	0	669	669
Pasta	0	27	27
Dehydrated products flavoured	0	14	14
Ice and ice creams	0	16	16
Pasta	0	27	27
Packed products	0	26	26
Fresh fruit	372	11	383
Fresh vegetables	787	10	797
Potato products	0	5	5
Dry shell fruits	0	28	28
Total	1, 299	1, 793	3, 092

Graph 3.3.1 - Results of control of the microbiological requirements in foodstuffs. Number of nonconforming samples by the individual commodities

Graph 3.3.1 - Results of control of the microbiological requirements in foodstuffs. Number of nonconforming samples by the individual commodities.jpg

Explanation of abbreviations:
PA – dairy products	PY – cold products
PB – poultry, eggs	PV – confectioneries
PC – meat, meat products	PX – pasta
PD – fish and aquatic animals	PT – dehydrated products flavoured
PG – processed fruit and vegetables	PW – ice and ice creams
PH – spirit, liquors, yeast	ZC – paced products
PJ – non-alcoholic beverages	ZD – fresh fruit
PL – mill grain products
PK – grape wine	ZF – potato products
PO – refrigerated products	ZS – dry shell fruits PM – baked products
PM – baked products

Table 3.3.2 : Number of samples analysed in the CAFIA microbiological laboratories in 2002

2002	Total of Samples	Nonconforming samples		amples dangeous to public health
		number	%	number	%
January	382	53	13,8	2	0,5
February	790	140	17,7	13	1,6
March	970	166	17,1	3	0,3
April	801	161	20,1	8	1,0
May	697	159	22,8	11	1,6
June	763	253	33,2	12	1,6
July	784	198	25,3	14	1,8
August	608	226	37,2	10	1,6
September	661	219	33,1	20	3,0
October	606	124	20,5	6	0,5
November	541	94	17,4	4	0,7
December	392	68	17,3	8	2,0
Total	7995	1793	22,4	111	1,4

Graph 3.3.2: Food samples detected as nonconforming with microbiological requirements in 2002 (only laboratory analyses)

Graph 3.3.2 Food samples detected as nonconforming with microbiological requirements in 2002 (only laboratory analyses).jpg

Graph 3.3.3: Microorganisms by types detected in the nonconforming food samples