EU-wide baseline studies: achievements and difficulties faced

With the purpose of providing the scientific basis for setting targets for Salmonella in food-producing animals, several EU-wide baseline studies to determine the prevalence of Salmonella have been organised at the European Community level. The studies in laying hens and broilers are completed and reported. The achievements and difficulties faced are the main focus of this paper. The results support that poultry products, and table eggs in particular, are important sources of human salmonellosis in EU. However, they also illustrate that with effective surveillance and control efforts, as implemented in several Member States, the prevalence, and thus the associated human infections, can be reduced significantly.