Summary of opinion

© European Food Safety Authority, 2007

Public health risks involved in the human consumption of reptile meat1

Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Biological Hazards

(Question No EFSA-Q -2006-175)

Adopted by the BIOHAZ Panel on 18 October 2007

Chapter 3.2 on chemical hazards, adopted by the CONTAM Panel on 20 September 2007

SUMMARY

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the public health risks involved in the human consumption of reptile meat. The risk assessment deals with disease agents (viruses, prions, bacteria, fungi, parasites) as well as chemical substances (e.g., residues of veterinary drugs, hormones, and heavy metals) that might be of public health concern. The BIOHAZ Panel provided and adopted its scientific opinion on biological hazards. The Chapter on chemical hazards was adopted from the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM).

The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), the European pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis), and the Ocellated lizard (formerly Lacerta lepida, recently reclassified as Timon lepidus) are the main species considered in this opinion. Hazards from the consumption of meat from other reptiles (e.g., snakes) may pose a risk for consumers and were considered as well. Only farmed or ranched reptiles were considered and not wild ones (“bush meat”).

The BIOHAZ Panel concluded that relevant risks due to the consumption of reptile meat are related to hazards caused by certain bacteria (Salmonella) and parasites (Spirometra, pentastomids). Risks related to Trichinella were not considered because this parasite is already legislated by the Regulation (EC) No 2075/2005, since it represents a known biological hazard to humans through reptile meat consumption. There is a lack of information about the presence of Salmonella in meat from farmed reptilians other than crocodilians. The BIOHAZ Panel concluded that Salmonella constitutes a significant public health risk due to the documented high intestinal carrier rate in live crocodilians that is reflected in an equally high contamination rate in their fresh and frozen meat.

1 For citation purposes: Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Biological Hazards on a request from the European

Commission on public health risks involved in the human consumption of reptile meat. The EFSA Journal The EFSA Journal (2007) 578, 1-55

Summary of opinion

The EFSA Journal (2007) 578, 2-2

Parasitic protozoa represent a negligible risk for public health after reptile meat consumption compared to parasitic metazoa. Parasites causing pentastomiasis and sparganosis can be transmitted to humans through consumption of contaminated snake meat. Other reptiles, although found to be parasitized by the above parasites, have not been implicated with their transmission to humans through meat consumption. Freezing treatment inactivates Spirometra in crocodile meat. However, the effectiveness of freezing of other reptilian meat is unknown.

At present, there is no evidence that viruses infecting reptilians can be transmitted to humans through consumption of reptile meat. Infections by fungi, including yeasts, widely occur in reptiles but have not been linked to the contamination of their meat. Currently there are no indications that natural TSEs occur in farmed reptilians. The feeding of reptiles with non-processed and recycled animal products is likely to increase the occurrence of biological hazards in reptile meat. Application of GHP/GMP and HACCP procedures at both farm and slaughterhouse level contributes to controlling the hazards.

The CONTAM Panel concluded that there is a lack of occurrence data on residues of veterinary medicines and chemical contaminants in these species, and therefore, a risk assessment of potential contaminants is not possible. In regard to environmental contaminants and residues of veterinary medicines, the CONTAM Panel noted that measures equivalent to EU legislation on feed should also be applied in the production of such imported foods. The CONTAM Panel recommended that data on the occurrence of chemical hazards in reptile meat need to be collected.

Key words: reptilians, public health, Salmonella, parasites, chemical contaminants, consumption of reptile meat