EFSA Says No Evidence of Ebola Risk from Food

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reportedly concluded that “[t]here is no evidence that the Ebola virus can be transmitted through food in the European Union.” At the request of the European Commission, EFSA issued a scientific report detailing the risk pathway for the transmission of Zaïre Ebola virus (ZEBOV) via imported food consumed in the European Union. Although the report emphasizes that ZEBOV infections linked to the EU food chain have never been documented, it notes the gaps in scientific research stemming from the unlikelihood of this event.

“Due to lack of data and knowledge, which results in very high uncertainty, it is not possible to quantify the risk of foodborne transmission of ZEBOV derived from the consumption of these imported foods, or in fact whether or not this mode of transmission could occur at all,” states EFSA. “The overall conclusions of both approaches are consistent and suggest that the risk of foodborne transmission of ZEBOV via food other than bushmeat imported into the EU remains a theoretical possibility only and has never been demonstrated in practice. However, the uncertainty in the combined assessment is considered high given the lack of data.” See EFSA News Release, March 18, 2015.

Issue 559