Introduction
For a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan to work well, it is important to first identify and understand all possible food safety risks. To help with this key step, we have created several detailed hazard analysis tables that cover a wide range of contaminants.
The information below focuses specifically on biological hazards, particularly parasites. These are organisms that live in or on a host (such as fish, livestock, or humans) and derive nourishment from that host, often causing illness and posing a significant risk to consumer health. The hazard table provided gives a complete overview of this specific category, showing potential parasites, their common sources, effective prevention strategies, and listing the critical control points (CCPs) and checks needed for their management.
Because the table contains a lot of detailed information spread across many columns, it is best to download the file to see it properly.
What are parasitic hazards?
A parasitic hazard refers to the presence of protozoa (like Cryptosporidium or Toxoplasma gondii) or helminths (worms like Anisakis or Trichinella) in food that can cause illness.
These organisms can enter the food supply in various ways. The most common routes include contamination from water (e.g., irrigation, washing produce) or the consumption of undercooked meat or raw fish that serve as intermediate hosts.
To protect consumers, the food industry employs several key control measures. Control often focuses on the inactivation of the organism. These measures include sourcing from controlled environments, implementing validated kill steps (such as specific freezing requirements for fish intended for raw consumption), ensuring adequate cooking (thermal processing), and maintaining good agricultural and hygiene practices to prevent contamination. Through these diligent controls and specific regulations, the health risk from parasitic hazards is kept as low as possible.
iMIS Food - Biological Hazards - Parasites
| Name | Group | Origin | Food Products | Health Effects | Regulation (EU) | Prevention | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anisakis simplex & spp. | Nematode (roundworm) | Marine cycle involving mammals, crustaceans, and fish/squid. Humans are accidental hosts. | Raw or undercooked marine fish (herring, cod, salmon, mackerel, monkfish) and squid. | Anisakiasis: Acute gastrointestinal symptoms and allergic reactions. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 853/2004: Mandates visual examination and freezing for raw fish. | Inactivation: ∙ Heating. ∙ Freezing. |
Salting and marinating (e.g., ceviche, pickled herring) may not be sufficient to kill the larvae. Farmed Atlantic salmon may be exempt from freezing if the feed and farming conditions are proven to be parasite-free. |
| Toxoplasma gondii | Protozoa | Cats shed oocysts; livestock form tissue cysts. Contamination via feces, soil, water, meat. | Undercooked or raw meat (pork, lamb, venison). Contaminated raw vegetables, fruits, or water. Unpasteurised milk (especially goat's milk). | Toxoplasmosis: Usually asymptomatic, but dangerous during pregnancy. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 852/2004 & 853/2004: General hygiene rules. | Inactivation: ∙ Heating. ∙ Freezing. ∙ Thoroughly wash all fresh produce. Wash hands after handling raw meat or soil. |
One of the most common parasitic infections. The tissue cysts (bradyzoites) are heat-labile but resistant to salting and curing. |
| Trichinella spiralis & spp. | Nematode (roundworm) | Larvae encyst in muscle of pigs, wild boar, horses, game. Infection via eating contaminated meat. | Raw or undercooked pork, wild boar, horse meat, and other wild game (bear, fox, walrus). | Trichinellosis: GI symptoms followed by larval migration to muscles (fever, pain). Can be fatal. | ∙ Reg. (EU) 2015/1375: Mandates testing for pork, wild boar, and horse meat. | Inactivation: ∙ Heating. ∙ Freezing. |
Incidence in EU commercial pigs is extremely low due to controlled housing. The main risk is from wild game and backyard pigs. Some Trichinella species in wild game are freeze-resistant. |
| Taenia saginata (Beef tapeworm) |
Cestode (tapeworm) | Human feces contaminate environment; cattle ingest eggs; larvae encyst in beef muscle. | Raw or undercooked beef ("beef measles"). | Taeniasis: Intestinal tapeworm, mild or asymptomatic. | ∙ Reg. (EU) 2019/627: Mandates post-mortem inspection of cattle. | Inactivation: ∙ Heating. ∙ Freezing. |
Does not cause cysticercosis (cysts in the brain) in humans. The hazard is only the intestinal tapeworm. |
| Taenia solium (Pork tapeworm) |
Cestode (tapeworm) | Human feces contaminate environment; pigs ingest eggs; larvae encyst in pork muscle. Humans can also ingest eggs directly. | Taeniasis: Eating raw or undercooked pork. Cysticercosis: Ingesting eggs via fecal-oral route (contaminated food/water). |
Taeniasis: Intestinal tapeworm. Cysticercosis (from eggs): Extremely severe disease (e.g., neurocysticercosis). |
∙ Reg. (EU) 2019/627: Mandates post-mortem inspection of pigs. | Inactivation (meat): ∙ Heating. ∙ Freezing. ∙ Strict GHP to prevent fecal-oral contamination. |
Neurocysticercosis (from eggs) is a major public health issue globally. |
| Echinococcus granulosus & E. multilocularis |
Cestode (tapeworm) | Eggs passed in feces of dogs (E.g.) or foxes (E.m.). Humans accidentally ingest eggs. | Contaminated wild-picked produce (berries, mushrooms, greens) or water contaminated with fecal matter from foxes or dogs. | Echinococcosis: Forms large (Cystic) or invasive (Alveolar) cysts in liver/lungs. Alveolar can be fatal. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 852/2004: General food hygiene rules (GHP). | Inactivation: ∙ Heating. ∙ Standard freezing is not sufficient. ∙ Wash wild-picked foods. |
Long latency period. E. multilocularis is a serious concern. Standard freezing is insufficient. |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | Protozoa | Oocysts shed in feces of animals/humans contaminate water/food. | Contaminated drinking water. Contaminated raw produce (salads, fruits), unpasteurised milk or juice. | Cryptosporidiosis: Profuse, watery diarrhoea. Severe in immunocompromised. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 852/2004: GHP. ∙ Drinking Water Directive. |
Inactivation: ∙ Oocysts are chlorine-resistant. ∙ Heating/Pasteurisation. ∙ Freezing. ∙ Water treatment (filtration, UV). |
Common waterborne outbreak cause. Low infectious dose. Chlorine-resistant. |
| Cyclospora cayetanensis | Protozoa | Human feces contaminate environment; oocysts need time to become infectious. | Imported fresh produce, especially leafy greens (basil, cilantro) and soft fruits (raspberries, blackberries). Contaminated water. | Cyclosporiasis: Prolonged watery diarrhoea, fatigue. Can relapse. | ∙ Reg. (EU) 2017/625: Official controls on imported food. | Inactivation: ∙ Oocysts are chlorine-resistant. ∙ Heating is effective. ∙ GAPs and use of safe irrigation water. |
Outbreaks linked to imported produce. Oocysts not immediately infectious. |
| Giardia duodenalis (lamblia) | Protozoa | Cysts passed in feces of humans/animals are directly infectious. | Contaminated drinking water. Contaminated raw food (e.g., produce) handled by an infected person. | Giardiasis: Diarrhoea, gas, greasy stools, cramps, malabsorption. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 852/2004: GHP. ∙ Drinking Water Directive. |
Inactivation: ∙ Cysts are relatively chlorine-resistant. ∙ Heating or Freezing. ∙ Good personal hygiene. |
Very common cause of parasitic GI disease globally. |
| Fasciola hepatica (Liver fluke) | Trematode (fluke) | Herbivore feces contaminate water; snails host larvae; larvae encyst on aquatic plants. | Raw aquatic plants, particularly wild-grown watercress. Raw aquatic vegetables (water mint). | Fascioliasis: Acute phase (fever, pain) and chronic phase (liver/bile duct damage). | ∙ Reg. (EC) 853/2004: Post-mortem inspection of livestock livers. | Inactivation: ∙ Heating. ∙ Freezing. ∙ Sourcing watercress from safe farms. |
Important veterinary parasite. Human cases rare in Europe. |
| Clonorchis & Opisthorchis spp. (Liver flukes) |
Trematode (fluke) | Cycle involves snails and freshwater fish. Humans infected via raw/undercooked fish. | Raw, undercooked, pickled, or salted freshwater fish (e.g., carp). | Chronic inflammation of bile ducts. Major risk factor for bile duct cancer. | Not endemic in EU: No specific regulation. | Inactivation: ∙ Heating. ∙ Freezing. ∙ Salting and pickling are not reliable. |
Endemic in East/Southeast Asia. Classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by IARC. Risk is relevant for imported fish products. |
| Paragonimus spp. (Lung fluke) |
Trematode (fluke) | Cycle involves snails and freshwater crustaceans. Humans infected via raw/undercooked crustaceans. | Raw or undercooked freshwater crabs or crayfish. | Paragonimiasis: Lung disease. Can migrate to the brain, causing neurological symptoms. | Not endemic in EU: No specific regulations. | Inactivation: ∙ Heating. ∙ Freezing. |
Endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The practice of eating "drunken crab" (marinated raw crab) is a major risk factor. |
Download and Print the Parasites Hazards Table
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