No H1N1 Risk to Humans from Meat, Says EFSA

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has ruled out the risk of humans contracting the H1N1 virus from pork, pork products, turkey or processing equipment.

After evaluating the different requirements for the H1N1 virus to infect food, scientists said the virus would not be able to overcome a number of hurdles to cause infection.

The factors include the susceptibility to acid, pH and bile salts and a lack of evidence that the human gastro intestinal tract could serve as a point of entry.

The EFSA report said the virus, if and when ingested via contaminated or raw food products, is highly likely to become inactivated prior to arrival in the intestines.