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Figures show further reduction in campylobacter levels
An average of 4.5 per cent of chickens tested positive for the highest level of campylobacter contamination.
Retailers publish their testing results for October to December 2017

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has thanked retailers for their work to reduce campylobacter levels in chicken.

Nine top retailers in the UK have published their testing results on campylobacter contamination in fresh whole chickens for the period October to December 2017.

The figures show that an average of 4.5 per cent of chickens tested positive for the highest level of campylobacter contamination (those carrying more than 1,000 colony-forming units per gram cfu/g). In the previous quarter (July to September), the figure for the highest level of contamination was 5.1 per cent - a fall of more than 0.6 per cent.

The FSA says that the fall builds on results released by retailers in November 2017, with the overall trend continuing to show a reduction in the highest levels of contamination.

“It’s good to see that levels of campylobacter found continue on a downward trend. We will continue to monitor the results and procedures of the major retailers and encourage them to maintain the significant progress made so far,” said FSA director of policy and science, Michael Wright.

“We would like to thank the British Retail Consortium and the retailers for continuing to take the issue of campylobacter seriously and for working together to coordinate the publication of their results. We are actively working across smaller poultry businesses so that they can also contribute to reducing campylobacter levels.”

The FSA has been testing chicken for campylobacter since February 2014 as part of a campaign to bring together the whole food chain to tackle the problem. In September 2017, the organisation announced that retailers would be carrying out their own sampling and publishing their results under strict protocols set out by the FSA.

The nine retailers that submitted their campylobacter results were Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.

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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.