The Food Standards Agency (FSA) made the declaration to target Campylobacter as its "key food safety priority" as it outlined its GBP25-million (US$37-million) Foodborne Disease Strategy to tackle all types of food poisoning by 2015.

Foodborne diseases cost the UK economy almost GBP1.5 billion (US$2.2 billion) annually, said Andrew Wadge, chief scientist at the FSA. They are responsible for around one million illnesses, leading to 20,000 hospital treatments and 500 deaths - with chicken and beef as the main foods associated with the problem, he added.

The FSA estimated implementation of the food safety plan would likely cost GBP4-5 million (US$5.9-$7.4 million) annually over the next five years. But it stressed that success in reducing such diseases would bring significant benefits - with reduction in overall incidence leading to 10,000 fewer cases and an economic saving of around GBP15 million (US$22.2 million) per year.

Agency proposals included partnerships with the UK food industry to trial new intervention measures on the farm, in slaughterhouses and at retail level. As part of a far-reaching programme, the FSA was working with processors to improve plant hygiene and with producers to boost biosecurity measures. The body said it believed campylobacter would be cut along the supply chain if supermarkets were prepared to pay higher prices. Packaging solutions – such as modified atmosphere packing - could also play a part in tackling the problem, it added.

The agency planned to set a new target for reducing the levels of campylobacter on chicken by the end of 2010 and meet these by 2015. Action was also tabled on to undertake risk assessment of listeriosis by March 2012 and develop reduction initiatives for other foodborne pathogens by March 2011.