Quantitative exposure assessment to listeria species through consumption of polony imported from South Africa in Lusaka, Zambia.

This study aimed to quantitatively assess the Risk of Exposure to Listeria through consumption of ready to eat meat and meat products (RTE) imported from South Africa in Lusaka Province of Zambia. A swift quantitative microbiological risk assessment (sQMRA) simulation model was used to analyse data, which was collected through a literature review. A literature review was guided by the eleven questions, which make up the Microsoft Excel-based sQMRA model.
Results showed that the average serving portion for Polony in Lusaka District was 30g per day. The probability of exposure to Listeria species through consumption of Polony was relatively low. At a serving portion of 30g, the concentration of 1000 cfu/g, infectious dose 50 (ID50) of 105 , two people in a population of 1,765,488 would get ill, representing a probability of 0.00011 percent. Similarly, at a serving portion of 30g, the concentration of 100 cfu/g, infectious dose 50 (ID50) of 105 and 107 , no person in a population of 1,765,488 would get exposed, representing a probability of zero.
This study concludes that the risk of exposure to Listeria spp through consumption of RTE meat and meat products imported from South Africa in Lusaka district, was extremely low, mainly due to the nature of the product (Polony), which it is well done at factory prior to supply in supermarket and the serving size portion was very minimal. Since cross-contamination accounted for 100% high risk of exposure to Listeria spp., it is important to sanitise the slicing
equipment every time they are used to slice Polony. A proper hygienic system can prevent the cross-contamination with L. monocytogenes, which is a fundamental risk factor in Polony facilities