Belfast-based Devenish Nutrition and Co, Meath broiler producer, Carton Brothers, have been given grant funding by InterTradeIreland, through their INNOVA Research & Development programme, to be in charge of the research, which will examine the effect of selected water-soluble products on the campylobacter population in chickens.

 

"Campylobacter are bacteria which cause gastroenteritis in humans and are recognised as the most frequently reported food-borne cause of gastroenteritis in humans," said a spokesman. "Live birds can harbour high levels of campylobacter in their intestines without exhibiting any signs of clinical disease."

 

"During bird processing, these bacteria can transfer on to the carcass, contaminating the poultry meat."

 

Strategies to decrease the campylobacter population can be applied at different stages in the production chain. The Devenish/Cartons INNOVA project will target live birds, aiming to lessen the bacterial load going into the processing plant.

 

"In vitro laboratory tests have demonstrated that a wide variety of feed additives exhibit anti-bacterial activity against campylobacter, but such activity must also be demonstrated in the live bird if carriage of the bacteria in commercial flocks is to be successfully reduced," said the spokesman.