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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 28th November 2014
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Campylobacter found in 70 per cent of supermarket chicken
Chicken
Campylobacter is the most common form of food poisoning in the UK, affecting an estimated 280,000 people a year.
Campylobacter the most common form of food poisoning in the UK

Seventy per cent of supermarket chickens have tested positive for the presence of campylobacter, results published from a survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have revealed.

Tackling campylobacter is the FSA's number one food safety priority and it is spearheading a campaign to bring together the whole food chain to tackle the problem.

A 12-month survey, running from February 2014 to February 2015, will test 4,000 samples of whole chickens bought from UK retail outlets and smaller independent stores and butchers.

So far, almost half of the samples have been tested, and cumulative results from the first two quarters reveal:

    •    18 per cent of chickens tested positive for campylobacter above the highest level of contamination
    •    70 per cent of chickens tested positive for the presence of campylobacter
    •    Six per cent of packaging tested positive for the presence of campylobacter with only one sample at the highest level of contamination

Campylobacter is the most common form of food poisoning in the UK, affecting an estimated 280,000 people a year.  

Steve Wearne, FSA director of policy, said: "These results show that the food industry, especially retailers, need to do more to reduce the amount of campylobacter on fresh chickens. Although we are only half-way through the survey, 18 per cent of birds tested had campylobacter over 1,000 cfu/g, the highest level of contamination, and more than 70 per cent of birds had some campylobacter on them. This shows there is a long way to go before consumers are protected from this bug.

"If chicken is cooked thoroughly and preparation guidelines are properly followed, the risk to the public is extremely low.

"There are signs that some retailers are starting to step up to their responsibilities. When more do, we will see the sustained improvements that will help prevent many of their customers getting ill."

A summary of the results by retailer can be found at www.food.gov.uk

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.