EFSA: More Bacteriophages Research Needed

PARMA, ItalyA recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Biological Hazards opinion concluded that under specific conditions, bacteriophages may be very effective in the elimination of specific pathogens from foods under specific conditions. However, based on currently available date in peer-reviewed scientific literature, the panel could not conclude whether bacteriophages can protect against bacteria in case the food becomes re-contaminated.

The panel also recommended that in if bacteriophage treatments are to be used for removal of surface contamination of foods of animal origin, then a guidance document on the submission of data for their evaluation needs to be provided.