AUSTRALIA – Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has explained that eating tomatoes with a tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), a contagious virus is safe.
ToBRFV is a virus that infects plants, particularly tomatoes and other crops such as capsicums and chillies. (FSANZ) CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the virus does not pose a food safety risk.
“Consumers can continue to eat tomatoes and other produce with confidence,” Cuthbert said. “The virus reduces crop yields and marketability, and the restrictions that have been put in place aim to protect other producers from these impacts.”
Dr Cuthbert noted that Australia’s world-class biosecurity and food regulation systems manage plant viruses like tomato brown rugose fruit virus to support the sustainability of the agricultural industries and minimise disruption to the food supply chain.
The virus was first detected and confirmed in August, with authorities claiming it was the first cases in Australia.
South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) is responsible for leading the biosecurity response to the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus under the national Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed.
The Australian Government continues to provide support to state and territory governments and domestic industries, and to engage with our trading partners to minimise its impact.
The state government has placed the infected properties under lockdown, halting all tomato production indefinitely.
Perfection Fresh, one of the country’s largest fruit and vegetable growers has been forced to quarantine.
Quarantine measures are in place on and around the infected properties as surveillance and tracing efforts are underway to determine the source of the virus and how it spread.
PIRSA are working with affected businesses to minimise cross contamination. More than 2500 plant samples have been taken for testing from 18 different businesses as of September 17. The PIRSA are following up with four businesses in case of infected seeds.
The tomato brown rugose fruit virus is highly contagious, can survive for months and affects tomatoes, capsicums and chillies. Contaminated tomatoes can appear yellow or discoloured with mottling patterns and deformities.
The virus can spread through infected seed, plants, grafts and cutting, direct plant to plant contact and touch transmission by handling contaminated clothing and equipment.
It is regarded as a considerable threat to Australia’s vegetable industry and can reduce marketable yield by up to 75 per cent in tomatoes.
The tomato virus was first detected in the Middle East in 2014 and spread across Europe, China, Mexico and the USA before it reached Australia a decade later in August.
