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Listen to this siteFriday 17 September 2004
This review aims to obtain information on biosecurity measures for campylobacter at broiler farms
Study Duration : January 2002 to April 2002
Contractor : Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Campylobacter is a major cause of food poisoning and can be present on a large proportion of chicken carcasses. Control at the farm level is a primary approach to reducing levels. For food poisoning organisms, like salmonella, stricter flock biosecurity has proved a successful strategy to reduce carcass contamination but to date such an approach has not been so successful for campylobacter and the reasons for this are unclear.
This review is needed to obtain information on biosecurity measures for campylobacter, including an assessment of the practicality and cost-effectiveness of current biosecurity measures and a comparison of such practices with other countries.
Information will be obtained from a range of different sources both in the UK and overseas. Nine companies, representing a cross-section of the UK poultry meat production and slaughter industries, will be interviewed and the information collected by completion of a standard questionnaire. Issues relating to campylobacter biosecurity at the broiler farm will be gathered from a range of sources including experts in ADAS Consultancy, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the University of Bristol and key stakeholders in the poultry industry. Information will also be obtained from a scientific literature review which focuses on biosecurity against campylobacter.
The review highlighted the extreme difficulty of keeping broiler flocks campylobacter free. However, research has identified several important intervention measures, particularly hygiene barriers, that are effective in reducing the number of campylobacter positive flocks. Biosecurity practices vary throughout the industry and there is an indication that on some farms that improvements are necessary to meet basic biosecurity requirements such as those introduced to control salmonella. The review identified information transfer as an important issue, recommending an investigation of the barriers to the adoption of best practice and a need to encourage the belief that campylobacter can be controlled to some degree, particularly by following good husbandry practices and strict biosecurity.
This report provides important information that will assist the Agency as it develops its action plan for the reduction of campylobacter in poultry. The conclusions and recommendations, including the research requirements, will be considered in full as the Agency takes this work forward.
Final report is available from the FSA Library and Information centre. To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Dr Elsie Widdowson Library and Information Services, Food Standards Agency tel: 020 7276 8181/8182 or by email: library&info@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
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Email
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