Abstract
BACKGROUND: The European Commission developed the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feeds (RASFF) as a monitoring and reporting tool for food safety risks and consumer protection among the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area member states. AIM: This study evaluated the notifications of variable hazards on poultry meat and poultry meat products originating from global supply chains to the EU between 2000 and 2022 by analyzing notifications and alert incidences on the RASFF database. METHODS: A total of 4,134 notifications were evaluated and analyzed, such studies were reported by 32 countries due to the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, residues of veterinary medicinal products, microbial contaminants, feed additives, and adulteration in addition to poor or insufficient controls from 48 countries worldwide. RESULTS: The highest number of notifications was for poultry meat and poultry meat products imported from Poland (n = 1,208; 29.22%) and Brazil (n = 975; 23.58%). Among all reported notifications, pathogenic microorganisms were the most predominant (n = 3,356; 81.18%) across the variable categories of hazards. Salmonella was the most notified pathogen (n = 3,170; 76.68%). According to notification type, alert represented (31.88%), followed by border rejection (21.89%), and based on risk decisions, the vast majority of cases (54.26%) were considered as serious. The main measures taken in response to notifications were withdrawal from the market (12.62%) and import not authorized (11.46%). CONCLUSION: The results revealed that imported poultry meat and poultry meat products are potential vehicles for clinically relevant risks, including microbial and chemical hazards.