Research – Detection of foodborne viruses in ready-to-eat meat products and meat processing plants

Practical applications

There is an increasing need to better understand the prevalence of foodborne viruses in the environment and food, given the rise of viral foodborne outbreaks throughout the world, as reported by World Health Organization. Meat products form an important exposure vehicle to humans either directly, through the consumption of raw products, or as a result of cross-contamination in food processing plants. This is the first report in Cyprus illustrating the presence of foodborne viruses in meat processing plants and the possible impact in public health, through the consumption of ready-to-eat meat products.