News
26.07.2022 - Foods
BfR: When using treated wastewater – Avoidance of viral pathogens (e.g. norovirus or hepatitis A virus) on plant-based foods
According to the statement of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) No. 019/2022 from July 08, 2022 "Treated Wastewater: Avoiding Viral Pathogens on Plant-Based Foods", the use of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation has been enabled at the European level due to climatic changes and increasingly scarce water resources. Here, there are uniform minimum requirements for water reuse to ensure the health of humans and animals as well as the protection of the environment. A major challenge is the presence of viral pathogens in wastewater.
The focus is on the irrigation of plants that are used as food – especially raw consumed fruits and vegetables, where possible pathogens are not reduced or killed by heating. In particular, the human norovirus or hepatitis A virus can be transmitted through plant-based foods – but also other viruses such as hepatitis E virus, rotavirus, sapovirus, etc.
There is currently little data on the stability and inactivation of human norovirus and hepatitis A virus, as well as their behavior during wastewater treatment, in soil, on plant-based foods, and through the root uptake of the viruses into the plant. However, the available data show that the viruses have high stability against environmental influences, in soil, and on the plant, and can be taken up through the roots. In addition, most viruses have a very low minimum infectious dose, with even small amounts of the virus potentially leading to diseases.
The BfR therefore recommends refraining from irrigating plants, whose parts growing close to or in the ground are commonly consumed raw, with treated wastewater. This recommendation should remain in place until adequate treatment methods and controls can exclude the presence of viral pathogens.
More information on norovirus and hepatitis A virus can also be found in our BAV profiles in our specialist article on noroviruses.
In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly conduct tests for numerous viruses such as norovirus, hepatitis A virus, and hepatitis E virus in foods.
We provide you with fast and reliable results. Our customer service representatives are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Sources:
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) – https://www.bfr.bund.de
Link to the BfR statement No. 019/2022: https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/aufbereitete-abwaesser-virale-krankheitserreger-auf-pflanzlichen-lebensmitteln-vermeiden.pdf
Robert-Koch-Institute - https://www.rki.de
https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Institut/OrgEinheiten/Abt3/FG32/Abwassersurveillance/Abwassersurveillance.html