The most important pork-born foodborne zoonotic hazards are Salmonella, Yersinia, Toxoplasma and Trichinella and the major hazards concerning poultry are Salmonella and Campylobacter. In addition, the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals cause antimicrobial resistance, which in turn can be transmitted to humans via the food chain. The preventing methods should start at farm level by decreasing the presence of these pathogens, and the development of resistance in food-producing animals. By combining information on farming practices, animal immunity and health, as well as on-farm use of antimicrobials and food safety assessments, ISAP will study how to achieve this in pigs and broilers. ISAP will also evaluate the efficiency and reliability of chain information from farm to fork as a measure of food safety controls.
The use of antimicrobials involves an increased risk of accumulation of residues in the environment, via farm waste, and in meat. Moreover, antimicrobial resistance genes have been identified in farm waste, soil and water. ISAP will elaborate the links between on-farm use of antimicrobials and residues detected at different stages of animal management, farm waste handling and in meat.