Salmonellosis in Kinder chocolates, listeria in “Les Salaisons de la Vernède” charcuterie from the Tarn, bacteria Escherichia Coli in Buitoni pizzas: product recalls and more serious food scandals have multiplied in recent weeks. In Haute-Garonne, a public laboratory at the forefront of these food analyses, but not only, opened its doors to us. This is the EVA (Water / Veterinary / Air) laboratory, in Launaguet.
– Benedict Dupont
Very rare infections
If the departmental laboratory is authorized to control the canteens of the 118 colleges of Haute-Garonne, it can also do so for other establishments such as high schools, nurseries or nursing homes which operate in self-control and can request them. In Haute-Garonne, college canteens are subject to withdrawals once a month, sometimes every week for large structures such as central kitchens.
The traditional research is carried out there security germs, listeria, salmonella for which the total absence is required, and hygiene germs such as staphylococci for which there are tolerance thresholds. In Haute-Garonne, around 98% of safety germ results are compliant. Their non-compliance, often without impact, gives rise to a search for the origin of this bacterium. “We cannot analyze each production or each batch. The larger the volume, the greater the risk of contamination because there are more personnel handling, more goods, more devices“, explains Lydie Rasolofo, the deputy director of the biological pole of this laboratory.
– Benedict Dupont
Animal epidemics and drinking water quality
Food safety is only a minor part of the activities of the EVA laboratory, however. 60% of the analyzes concern rather animal health, then come the water and air quality controls. The institution thus works pell-mell for the Adour-Garonne water agency, the regional health agency, industrialists, breeders, veterinarians, catering trades, nurserymen or individuals who may need example of having the water in their well examined.
The laboratory, which experienced AZF in 2001, a period during which the technicians worked 15 days non-stop, operates at 80% with its own resources by responding to calls for tenders. In 2022, the Departmental Council allocated it 1.33 million euros to ensure its health monitoring services in Veterinary Public Health, its epidemio-surveillance missions, management of prophylaxis and monitoring of zoonoses.
As we were able to intervene on mad cow disease, avian flu or the Covid, this shows us the importance of this tool, especially as the State is increasingly disengaging. It is a high-flying public service. It is we, for example, who will have to finance the anti-rabies titrations of the animals of the Ukrainian refugees. – Bernard Bagnéris, vice president of CD31 in charge of agrifood
While most departmental councils have their own analysis laboratory, that of Haute-Garonne is distinguished by rare approvals or skills such as research on honey, rabies tests on animals or on olive trees. Recently, the EVA laboratory lent a hand to the private sector in the analysis of PCR tests for Covid.
The Departmental Council has just announced that it intends to modernize this laboratory of excellence by rebuilding one, in the municipality of Launaguet, in the coming years. EVA also has a small branch in Saint-Gaudens.