Opinion of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) on the presence of Toxocara spp. parasites in wild boar meat

Abstract
This document presents the opinion of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), established from the work of its BIORISK Expert Committee. Two questions were presented to ANSES by the French Directorate General for Food, relating to the establishment of a risk profile for Toxocara spp. in wild boar meat and the proposal of control measures for risk management. An expert appraisal was requested in light of the recent discovery of Toxocara spp. larvae in inspected wild boar carcasses in France. The document begins by describing the parasite cycle, modes of transmission, and clinical forms of toxocariasis in humans. The discussion particularly focuses on the relative importance of foodborne transmission in comparison to other transmission methods. The wild boar meat‐processing sector is also described. In addition, there is an assessment of various methods for inactivating Toxocara spp. in meats, including freezing, cooking, and curing. The opinion draws conclusions from the risk profile for the continuation of work on toxocariasis on one hand, and the assessment of microbiological risks for wild boar meat on the other. Control measures that may be effective against Toxocara spp. are also presented. A series of recommendations aimed at various stakeholders (processing facilities, hunters, and consumers) is provided by the document.