Annette Nygaard Jensen
Senior Researcher
DTU National Food Institute
Research Group for Food Microbiology and Hygiene
Henrik Dams Allé
Building 204 Room 229
2800 Kgs. Lyngby
Danmark
Insects Flies Microbial Food Safety Detection of pathogens Organic Farming Transmission of pathogens
My research is focused on transmission of food borne pathogenic bacteria (salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli) in the primary production, particularly in organic farming systems. There has been an increased interest in rearing of insects for feed and food and it is important to assess the food safety of this new live-stock production form. Not least if organic side-streams are to be exploited as feed substrate for the insects in order to increase the circular bioeconomy . Food safety is therefore in focus in relation to the participation in the inVALUABLE project about establishment of mealworm production in DK. It is shown that houseflies play a role in transmission of campylobacter to chicken flocks, but knowledge on campylobacter survival in flies is lacking. A fly infection model is being used for investigating campylobacter survival in flies, incl. genes important for survival, as part of the EMIDA project CamChain. Consumption of antibiotics in organic pig production is limited compared to conventional production but the question is whether this is also reflected in less resistant bacteria in organic pork. Especially considering that organic swine are often slaughtered on the same slaughter line as the conventional constituting a potential risk for contamination with resistant bacteria. The CORE Organic II Project SafeOrganic is investigation this across four European countries. Relatively little is known about the bacterial infection risk associated with vegetables in Denmark, but in recent years outbreaks of disease with bacterial pathogens have been associated with consumption of fresh produce. I have participated in a joint European project with the aim to investigatethe potential infection risk associated with utilization of manure of livestock origin for fertilizing especially organic vegetables, where the use of chemical fertilizers is not allowed. This study involved detection of pathogens in field surveys as well as identification of special risk factors. There is great interest in being able to provide non-chemical, animal-friendly ways to reduce the incidence of pathogens in pigs instead of conventional treatment, especially in organic farming. I have been working with experimental field trials assessing the bacterial infection risk associated with outdoor pig production systems and the potential beneficial effect of using alternative feedstuffs such as chicory and lupin. These fructan- and fiber-rich feedstuffs will usually stimulate the growth of special fermenting bacteria in the gut and the altered microbial gut microbiota is believed to help the animal to fight invading pathogens.