P Kokkinos, I Kozyra, S Lazic, M Bouwknegt, S Rutjes, K Willems, R Moloney, A M de Roda Husman, A Kaupke, E Legaki, M D'Agostino, N Cook, A Rzeżutka, T Petrovic, A Vantarakis
Numerous outbreaks have been attributed to the consumption of raw or minimally processed leafy green vegetables contaminated with enteric viral pathogens. The aim of the present study was an integrated virological monitoring of the salad vegetables supply chain in Europe, from production, processing and point-of-sale. Samples were collected and analysed in Greece, Serbia and Poland, from 'general' and 'ad hoc' sampling points, which were perceived as critical points for virus contamination. General sampling points were identified through the analysis of background information questionnaires based on HACCP audit principles, and they were sampled during each sampling occasion where as-ad hoc sampling points were identified during food safety fact-finding visits and samples were only collected during the fact-finding visits...
December 2012: Food and Environmental Virology