4331 samples of ready-to-eat meat were tested for bacterial pathogens and indicators. 99.7% of the samples were satisfactory.

A total of 954 samples of raw non-soy plant-based meat alternatives were tested for E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and generic E. coli. Testing showed 99.7% of samples were satisfactory. The CFIA conducted appropriate follow-up activities when necessary.

A targeted survey on bacterial pathogens in pre-prepared, refrigerated baked desserts analyzed 2,975 samples for generic Escherichia coli (E. coli), Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) and Salmonella species (spp.). No C. perfringens and Salmonella spp. were found in any of the samples. Elevated levels of B. cereus were found in 3 samples. Elevated levels of S. aureus were found in 1 sample and L. monocytogenes was found in 1 sample. Generic E. coli was found in 12 samples. CFIA conducted appropriate follow-up activities such as facility inspections. No illnesses were reported in association with any of the positive samples.

Edible insects were selected to be part of a preliminary survey to gain basic food safety information. Little scientific information is available regarding the control of microbiological pathogens during the rearing and processing of edible insects. A targeted survey analyzed 51 samples of edible insects for microorganisms such as Salmonella and generic Escherichia coli (E. coli). No Salmonella or generic E. coli were found in any of the samples.

Sustainable culture of sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) is an active research area at NWFSC, with a primary objective of rearing a human food source under healthy, economic, and sustainable conditions. Development of sustainable feed for juvenile fish through replacement of marine fish oils is key for economic and ecological viability of sablefish culture. This project intends to analyze the GI microbiome of juvenile sablefish, comparing three feeds (corn oil, linseed oil, BioOregon BioBrood) used in a National Marine Aquaculture Initiative (NMAI)-funded project examining the effects of substitute lipids on growth, production composition, and lipid bioconversion. Community DNA from GI mucus and luminal contents will be extracted, quantified, and quality checked. DNA will be submitted for analysis by a microbial phylogenetic microarray bearing over a million probes for classifying more than 59,000 bacterial taxa. Second Genome, a company with exclusive licensing for this phylogenetic microarray, will conduct the the analysis for classification, relative abundance, & ordination. Complementary to microbiome analysis, morphological changes in gastrointestinal tissues will be assessed for each fish by light microscopic histology (collaboration with Mark Myers). Although this is a stand-alone project, the objective is for the microbiome approach to become an integral component of finfish nutrition research. Raw & refined classification & abundance data from array analysis & histology analysis.

A targeted survey on bacterial pathogens in raw milk cheese analyzed 2,009 samples for Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157. Of the 2,009 samples, 1,723 samples were tested for generic E. coli, Salmonella species (spp.), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). No Salmonella spp., E. coli O157 or generic E. coli were found in any of the samples. S. aureus was found in 6 samples and L. monocytogenes was found in 2 samples. The CFIA conducted appropriate follow-up activities which resulted in recalls.

A targeted survey on bacterial pathogens in seed powder and plant-based protein powder analyzed 583 samples of seed powder and 245 samples of plant-based protein powder for generic Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella species (spp.), B. cereus, Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). No Salmonella spp. and S. aureus were found in any of the samples. B. cereus was found in 3 of the seed powder samples and 10 of the plant-based protein powder. C. perfringens was found in 2 of the plant-based protein powder samples and a high level of generic E. coli was found in 1 seed powder sample. The CFIA conducted appropriate follow-up activities such as facility inspections and additional sampling.

A 3-year targeted survey analysed 891 samples of plant-based milk alternatives for the presence of the pathogens Salmonella species and Listeria monocytogenes. All samples were also tested for total coliforms and Aerobic Colony Count. Overall, the survey results indicate that plant-based milk alternatives sold in Canada are generally safe for consumption.