ANIMAL HEALTH AND THE ROLE OF THE VETERINARY FOOD HYGIENIST IN THE CONTROL OF MEAT BORNE INFECTIONS

The concept of ''Healthy Food from Healthy Animals'' relies upon the p re- and postharvest implementation of an integrated approach for prote cting the food product, from contamination or adulteration with harmfu l agents. This extended form of control is now an integral part of Haz ard Analysis Critical Control Point Programs and provides a practical means of validating the health status of herds and flocks of food-prod ucing animals. In this context the veterinary food hygienist, as a foo d company employee, has much to offer the agri-food industry. She/He c an appraise not alone the on-farm conditions but also the animal healt h and other data provided by the regulatory veterinarian assigned to t he plant. Such information, complemented by the plant's own food quali ty and safety assurance program, can then be used to improve and promo te the safety standards of the company. Extended health control progra ms emphasize the health and safety of the final product for the consum er at each stage of production and processing, and enable veterinary f ood hygienists, and others, to provide the agri-food industry, and gov ernmental agencies, with a scientific basis for harmonizing trade in m eat and other animal-derived foods.