Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
News

Norway Releases Risk Ranking Report, Toxoplasma gondii Tops List

Toxoplasma gondii
June 24, 2021

Norway has released a risk ranking report of 20 pathogens, and Toxoplasma gondii is at the top of the list. 

It was followed by Campylobacter, Echinococcus multilocularis, enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), Listeria monocytogenes, and non-typhoidal Salmonella, according to the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM).

The report was commissioned by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, and it will be used for risk-based prioritization of programs for monitoring and controlling pathogens in food and water.

Risk ranking was based on a few factors, including the number of water and foodborne illnesses, severity of acute and chronic disease, fraction of chronic illness, fatality rate, and the probability for future increased disease burden. The overall risk score for each pathogen was calculated by weighing six criteria related to public health. 

VKM looked at data from national surveillance and monitoring programs, prevalence surveys, outbreak investigations, and research, including epidemiological studies. When there was a lack of Norwegian data, international reports were used.

The bottom five pathogens were Clostridium botulinum, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus, and Anisakidae.

If number of foodborne illnesses was the most important criterion, the highest ranked pathogens would become norovirus and Campylobacter. When morbidity severity has maximal importance, the order is Toxoplasma, E. multilocularis, EHEC, C. botulinum, and Listeria.

VKM also noticed which foods the pathogens are commonly found in, the importance of food as a source of infection, and the main risk factors.

Fresh vegetables were one of the most important food sources for 12 of the 20 infectious agents, drinking water was associated with 8, and 5 were linked to raw milk products.

The main food vehicles of T. gondii were undercooked meat from sheep, pigs, and cattle, and unwashed fresh produce. For E. multilocularis it was eating unwashed raw vegetables, herbs, fruits, or berries contaminated with parasite eggs or drinking contaminated water.

Drinking water and poultry are the main vehicles for Campylobacter as well as consumption of raw, unpasteurized milk and dairy products. For Salmonella, it was various imported foods of animal or vegetable origin and foreign travel.

The top culprits for EHEC were undercooked meat from sheep and cattle, fresh produce, and unpasteurized milk products. For Listeria, the list included cold cuts, soft cheeses, fermented fish (rakfisk), and unpasteurized milk products.

KEYWORDS: Norway Toxoplasma gondii

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Contamination Control
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Facilities
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Contamination Control
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

recalled sysco and lyons imperial nutritional shakes

Listeria Outbreak Linked to Nutritional Shakes Served at Healthcare Facilities Causes 14 Deaths

Image of fish on ice

Common Fish Food Poisoning Types and Prevention Methods

Scientist inspecting food substance with microscope

FDA Announces ‘Proactive’ Post-Market Chemical Review Program to Keep Food Supply Safe

Events

June 12, 2025

Additive Bans Ahead: Your Guide to Avoiding Risk and Maintaining Agility

Live: June 12, 2025 at 12:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn how ingredient bans will impact product development, labeling, and sourcing.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • Canada Tops Overall World Ranking of Food Safety Performance

    See More
  • dried meat

    Northern Canadians More Likely to Contract Foodborne Parasite Toxoplasma Gondii

    See More
  • Cyclospora Outbreak Tops 400 Cases; Louisiana Joins Affected States List

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 1119071127.jpg

    Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking

  • food safety.jpg

    Food Safety Contaminants and Risk Assessment

  • 9781032369990 (1).webp

    Food Safety Quality Control and Management

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Dragos

    Dragos is the Industrial Cybersecurity expert on a relentless mission to safeguard civilization. We're your ally against industrial cyber threats. In a world of rising cybersecurity threats, Dragos protects the most critical infrastructure - those that provide us with the tenets of modern civilization - from increasingly capable adversaries who wish to do it harm. Devoted to codifying and sharing our in-depth industry knowledge of ICS/OT systems, Dragos arms industrial defenders around the world with the knowledge and tools to protect their systems as effectively and efficiently as possible.
  • Aquatiq

    Aquatiq Sense is a leading company with knowledge and tools for working preventively with pathogenic and quality-degrading bacteria. We are a company that specializes in web-based solutions for monitoring analysis results in the food industry, Aquatiq BioMap and Aquatiq Visual Lab Results. We assist in validating, verifying and improving the company’s basic requirements. Usually routines related to personal hygiene, production hygiene, technical hygiene, hygienic design and cleaning.
  • Praesidio Consulting LLC

    Expert regulatory consulting based upon 25+ years FSIS experience. We specialize in HACCP and related food safety plans, facility design and sanitation program consultation, non-compliance management and appeals, enforcement action response, retention and recall management, and expert witness consultation for litigation cases.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing