The suggested studies include work to assess the prevalence of toxoplasma in UK livestock and in food.
The ACMSF provides the Food Standards Agency (FSA) with independent advice on the microbiological safety of food. The ACMSF’s Ad Hoc Group on Vulnerable Groups was asked by the agency to review the current evidence on toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in the UK, to consider the risks from acquiring infection from food and identify what work may be needed to obtain robust data on foodborne sources of toxoplasmosis.
The group also looked at the toxoplasmosis advice given to vulnerable groups in the UK and other countries, and suggested that the current consumer advice to these groups should be reviewed.
FSA chief scientist, Andrew Wadge said: “This thorough and detailed report points out key gaps in our knowledge about this parasite and suggests areas where more research is needed which will help us in estimating how much infection is due to food and which foods might be the highest risk.”
Source: FSA
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