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external poultry packaging harbours campylobacter threat
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campylobacter has been detected on the external packaging of 40 per cent of fresh chickens on sale in shops across one major uk city, a study has found. the report from birmingham city council urged meat processors to use stronger packaging , called on supermarkets to employ better display techniques and suggested a public awareness campaign in a bid to cut the risk of cross-contamination of the foodbourne bacteria from external packing. but it also stressed that reducing campylobacter contamination on broiler farms was key and once achieved the benefits would be reflected throughout the food supply chain, ultimately reducing the number of food poisoning cases. a report from the european food safety authority (efsa) last year found that around 80 per cent of chicken carcasses on the european market were infected with campylobacter. the europe-wide survey found that 75 per cent of fresh uk poultry were carrying the pathogen. the uk food standards agency has declared campylobacter to be its top priority given the bug sickens an estimated 300,000 people a year and causes 80 deaths. survey the birmingham's environmental health team reached its conclusions after undertaking a survey of 20 packaged fresh chickens taken from the shelves of major supermarkets, local convenience stores and one butcher in the city. swabs were also taken from the chilled display cabinet at one “well-known supermarket” after it was observed pools of juice had leaked from the poultry through the packaging onto its surface. this was exacerbated by the retail practice of standing chickens on their ends which “makes for an attractive display but due to gravitation the natural juices are concentrated into one end of the tray and can leak out if there is a weakness in the shrink wrap and seams”, cautioned the report. scientists from the health protection agency laboratories examined both the exterior packing and the raw meat for campylobacter and salmonella. the hpa found campylobacter on the external packaging surface of eight of the 20 samples (40 per cent), with the bacteria detected in the meat of seven of the samples (35 per cent). no trace of salmonella was found on any exterior packaging. swabs taken from meat juice pooled in the display chillers also tested positive for the pathogen which, said the report, “indicated that campylobacter was present at the point of sale”. it also found there was no link between positive results on the meat and on the external packaging. “ this indicates that cross contamination of the external packaging could be at any point: i.e. from the packaging process, distribution, food handlers to the display area itself,” added the report. “ this type of packaging can split thereby leaking onto other packs and surfaces.” implications the study concluded there are issues throughout the food chain for cross-contamination to take place. however, it states the public is largely ignorant that external packaging of poultry products is one possible source of the bacteria. “consumers remove chicken from the display cabinets and the potential for cross-contamination starts at this point,” it said. “any surface this subsequently becomes in contact with will be contaminated, including hands, shopping bags and other ready-to-eat foods and work surfaces .”
Source :foodqualitynews.com
Date :
25
January
2011
Category :
Food And Health
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the us federal government has introduced new standards on salmonella and campylobacter in poultry with the aim of eliminating 65,000 foodborne illnesses a year. the new inspection rules, which refer to young chickens and turkeys, require companies to reduce the percentage of samples testing positive for a given pathogen to a certain level. they are the first such standards to be introduced for campylobacter, and the first revision to the salmonella standards for chicken since 1996 and for turkeys since the first standards were set in 2005.
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the food standards agency (fsa) has avoided specific targets in its latest strategic plan for 2010-2015, opting instead for five simple safety and health goals. in its last 5-year plan, the fsa employed a more detailed approach, giving specific targets on health and safety, but this time it restricted itself to directional goals. five goals communications director terrance collis said there was a danger of “plucking targets out of the air”, so to avoid laying out figures that get swept away by events, the fsa has boiled down its aims to the following five goals: food produced or sold in the uk is safe to eat imported food is safe to eat consumers understand about safe food and healthy eating, and have the information they need to make informed choices food products and catering meals are healthier regulation is effective, risk-based and proportionate, is clear about the responsibilities of food business operators, and protects consumers and their interests from fraud and other risks collis said the keys priorities in the new strategic plan are similar to those of the previous plan for 2005 – 2010, but that the emphasis has shifted in some areas.
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