Quantitative microbial risk assessment of haemolytic uremic syndrome associated with Argentinean kosher beef consumption in Israel

BRUSA, V.; DOLEV, S.; SIGNORINI, M.L.; LEOTTA, G.A.

PLOS ONE

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

Lugar: San Francisco; Año: 2023

1932-6203

The aim of this study was to perform a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) linked to the consumption of Kosher beef produced in Argentina and consumed in Israel in children under 14 years. A probabilistic risk assessment model was developed to characterize STEC prevalence and contamination levels in the beef supply chain (cattle primary production, cattle transport, processing and storage in the abattoir, for export and at retail, and home preparation and consumption). The model was implemented in Microsoft Excel 2016 with the @Risk add-on package. Results of 302 surveys with data collected in Israel were as follows: 92.3% of people consumed beef, mostly at home, and 98.2% preferred levels of cooking that ensured STEC removal from the surface of beef cuts. The preferred degree of ground beef doneness was “well-done” (48.2%). Cooking preference ranged from red to “mediumwell done” (51.8%). Median HUS probability from Argentinean beef cut and ground beef consumption in children under 14 years old was