A Microbiological survey of campylobacter contamination in fresh whole UK produced chilled chickens at retail sale (2014-15) Nicola Elviss United Kingdom
Background UK Food Standards Agency Campylobacter target* Reduce number of neck-skin samples (at post-chill) with > 1000 cfu/g (from 27 % in 2008 to 10 % in 2015) New industry standard** to include tightening of biosecurity and new hygiene practices for catchers Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) monitoring from 2012 to 2015 of 19 abattoirs September 2013, reported rise of 30% The FSA convened working group are advocating better communication of results to the industry, the industry to implement more control measures and to investigate interventions such as rapid surface chilling and improving washing equipment *http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/campytarget.pdf **http://www.assuredchicken.org.uk/resources/000/570/315/poultry_newsletter_acp_v4.pdf 2 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
Retail Survey One year study 4011 fresh whole chickens and 4005 packaging swabs tested from samples collected across the UK Enumeration of Campylobacter species using ISO/TS 10272-2 Colony Count Technique Retailers sampled in proportion to market share data (Kantar 2010) Free Range and organic birds included Data released each quarter through FSA website since Q3 as UK Government Official Statistics National chain data released by FSA on a quarterly basis 3 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
Chicken sampling locations across the UK 4 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
Results Quarterly reports are available at: Final report & associated data are available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2015/14003/campylobacter-surveyresults-12months http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2015/14418/campylobacter-surveyanalysis-report 5 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
73% of chickens had Campylobacter species isolated from neck skin (n = 4011) 6 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
6.8% of packaging swabs had Campylobacter species isolated (n = 4005) 7 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
8 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
9 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
Other findings of interest Processor approval codes showed a significant difference in the proportion of chickens with >1000 cfu/g, ranging from 9.4% to 29.7% Larger chickens, >1400 g in weight, showed a higher risk of being contaminated with >1000 cfu per g 76.6% of neck skin isolates were C. jejuni, 13.9% were C. coli and 4.2% of isolates were reported as mixed C. jejuni & C. coli Campylobacter coli was more frequently isolated in Summer than in Winter and Spring months. Where Campylobacter species was isolated from both skin and the corresponding outer packaging sample, the same species was detected in 93% of samples. 10 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
Press Attention Study has had wide press attention and keeping track of their reporting has identified some interesting errors, including confusion between the UK retail chain called Iceland and the country Iceland! 11 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
Follow up The FSA has funded a follow-up survey, which will run for up to three years This includes an amended design that will offer more precise comparison of retailers Continue to monitor the levels at retail based market share, although changes in the retail sector mean that sampling has become more standard across retailers. First quarterly report due in November 2015 and will be available online. 12 Campylobacter EURL Meeting, September 2015: UK NRL Presentation
Thank you for listening & a big thank you to. Food Standards Agency Frieda Jorgensen, PHE Bob Madden, AFBI Northern Ireland Gastro-intestinal Bacteria Reference Unit, PHE Andre Charlett & PHE Statistics Department