Browsing by Author "Machado, Claudia"
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- Building a Portuguese Food Microbiological Information NetworkPublication . Viegas, Silvia; Machado, Claudia; Dantas, Maria; Oliveira, LuísaIntroduction: The integration of food data from research, microbiological monitoring, epidemiological investigation and disease surveillance is crucial to manage foodborne risk. Consequently, INSA launched the Portuguese Food Information Resource Programme (PortFIR) in a partnership with GS1 Portugal to create national food chain expert networks and sustainable databases on food composition, consumption and chemical and microbiological contamination. Presently, the Food Microbiological Information Network (RPIMA) is being built. Purpose: The purpose is to build RPIMA including users and stakeholders, food microbiological data producers and regional authorities on agriculture and health to maximize resources (data, knowledge, financial, human, equipment…), spread knowledge and amplify the national capability. Methods: Potential users, stakeholders and data producers were identified and invited to participate in RPIMA through an e-mail questionnaire. A network meeting was organized to present, discuss and approve RPIMA’s goals. Structured brainstorming with experts of all food chain steps was used to define thematic working groups. Terms of Reference of PortFIR transversal working groups (WGs), “Users”, “Organization and Transfer of Information” and “Support to Standardization Work” were adapted to microbiology specificities through consensus within the WGs. Results: Currently the network has 82 members covering activity areas like food production and trade, risk assessment, research and education. RPIMA’s goals approved at its 1st annual meeting in October 2010 were a) to collect food microbiological information produced in different contexts, b) to standardize and c) analyse it and d) to make it available to national and international users and stakeholders namely risk assessors and risk managers. The brainstorming meeting took place on January 2011 and lead to the creation of 2 WGs: “Food Chain Microbiological Occurrence” and “Foodborne Outbreaks” whose reference terms are being defined. Presently, the Terms of Reference of the transversal WGs are under discussion. Significance: The results obtained so far regarding involvement and willingness to share data and knowledge indicate that RPIMA will allow to 1) monitor food microbiological occurrence, 2) biotrace foodborne outbreaks, 3) detect antibiotic resistance emergence, 4) provide scientific evidence for risk management, good hygiene practices and optimization of HACCP systems 5) quantify the impact of risk management decisions, 6) trace climate change impact and 7) identify information gaps to be researched in order to improve food safety.
- Da Cozinha ao Prato: Análise MicrobianaPublication . Machado, Claudia
- Informação Química Alimentar:Componentes e ContaminantesPublication . Machado, Claudia
- Portuguese Food Information Resource – sharing of food data, information and knowledgePublication . Oliveira, Luísa; Machado, Claudia; Dantas, M.Ascenção; Viegas, SilviaPortFIR (Portuguese Food Information Resource) is a program for the implementation of national networks of knowledge and data sharing in the areas of nutrition and food safety, and might be considered a spin-off of EuroFIR. The main aims of PortFIR are to promote synergy among the different actors in these fields in order to optimize the usage of national resources, and to manage and deliver data and information. Therefore, Port in PortFIR stands for Portal as well. This Portal, currently in its early stages of development, will include sustainable and quality assured food databases on composition, contamination (chemical and microbiological) and consumption and functionalities to electronically transmit and exchange data with international and national organisations, namely EuroFIR and EFSA. The PortFIR program is coordinated by the National Institute of Health (INSA) in a partnership with GS1 Portugal and with the support of governmental and private organizations encompassing health, agriculture and economy sectors. The Portuguese Food Composition Network was the first PortFIR network to be created and started its activity formally in October 2009 with the ultimate purpose of maintaining and updating the national food composition database (FCDB). Since January 2010, four Working Groups – Sampling, Organization and Transfer of Information, Users, Support to Standardization Work - are developing their activity. The network has currently 58 members, representing namely, food industry and distribution, state and private laboratories, universities, and regulators, of which 28 have declared their willingness to share data with the national FCDB. The Portuguese Food Microbiological Information Network, the second network created, was launched formally in October 2010 during the 3rd PortFIR Annual Meeting, and to date more than 80 entities already responded positively to the invitation to participate. The work in progress reveals that PortFIR activities are important to promote the use and quality of food data at national and international level. Keywords: PortFIR, National Network, Food databases, Food composition, Food Safety
- Rede Portuguesa sobre Composição de Alimentos (PortFIR - RPCA)Publication . Oliveira, Luísa; Viegas, Silvia; Machado, Claudia
- Towards a Portuguese database of food microbiological occurrencePublication . Viegas, Silvia; Machado, Claudia; Dantas, M.Ascenção; Oliveira, LuísaAims: To expand the Portuguese Food Information Resource Programme (PortFIR) by building the Portuguese Food Microbiological Information Network (RPIMA) including users, stakeholders, food microbiological data producers that will provide data and information from research, monitoring, epidemiological investigation and disease surveillance. The integration of food data in a national database will improve foodborne risk management. Methods and results Potential members were identified and invited to participate in RPIMA. Currently the network has 82 members covering activity areas like food production, trade, risk assessment, research and education. RPIMA’s goals are to a) collect food microbiological information produced in different contexts, b) standardize and analyse it and c) make it available to national and international users. Two thematic working groups (WGs) were defined through a brainstorming meeting with experts of all food chain: “Food Chain Microbiological Occurrence” and “Foodborne Outbreaks” whose reference terms are being developed. The Reference Terms of already existing WGs from PortFIR-Portuguese Food Composition Network (“Users”, “Organization and Transfer of Information” and “Support to Standardization Work”) are being revised to be transversal to the both networks. Conclusions The results obtained so far regarding involvement and willingness to share data and knowledge with the national database indicate that RPIMA will allow to 1) monitor food microbiological occurrence, 2) biotrace foodborne outbreaks, 3) detect antibiotic resistance emergence, 4) provide scientific evidence for risk management, good hygiene practices and optimization of HACCP systems 5) assess the impact of risk management decisions, 6) evaluate climate change impact and 7) identify information gaps for further research. Significance of study RPIMA will provide scientific evidence for risk management and protection of public health through the sharing of data, knowledge and resources. It will allow centralizing, harmonising, analysing and disseminating microbiological data and information essential to improve food safety.
- Towards a Unique Data Model for Chemical and Microbiological Food InformationPublication . Machado, ClaudiaIntroduction: The integration of food data from research, monitoring, control, epidemiology and other sources is crucial to improve food safety and public health. Consequently, INSA launched the Portuguese Food Information Resource Programme (PortFIR) in a partnership with GS1 Portugal CODIPOR to create national food expert networks and sustainable databases on food composition, consumption and chemical and microbiological contamination. Presently, the PortFIR data model is being developed. Existing data models on food information usually refer to either chemical substances or microorganisms. However, for food safety, particularly for risk-benefit evaluation, a unique data model to compile chemical and microbiological food information (CMFI) would be a huge step forward, regarding data standardization and optimization of resources. Purpose: The aim of this work is to explore the possibility of creating a unique data model for the compilation, management and use of CMFI compatible with EFSA’s chemical and microbiological calls for data and for nutrition applications, namely EuroFIR European Food Composition Data Bank. Method: The work was developed in two steps: 1) identification of existing relevant Data Models; 2) comparison and listing of all required attributes. Results: The data models identified as relevant were EFSA’s Standard Sample Description for Food and Feed, for chemical contaminants, Zoonoses Data Collection for microbiological contaminants and foodborne outbreaks and the CEN/TC 387 prEN_16104 Food Data – Data structure. The reasons to choose these references were the need to report data to EFSA and to update national data in the EuroFIR Food Composition Databank whose structure formed the basis of CEN/TC 387 work. All attributes in each model were listed and correspondence among models was cross-referenced. Conclusions: This work was the first stage in the development of a unique data model for CMFI. The biggest advantage of such a data model is the ability to store all the information needed in a single database whose compatibility allows to exchange and to share information with national and international partners, contributing to improve food safety at a global level.