July 25, 2014

UK supermarkets investigate into allegation of contaminated poultry

Three leading supermarkets in the UK have launched emergency investigations following news reports in the Guardian that the poultry industry had hygiene problems.

The Guardian reported that there were hygiene concerns in factories, farms and an abattoir involving 2 Sisters Food Group and Faccenda, two of the UK's largest poultry processors, which supply chicken to Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Aldi and Nando's.

The report alleged that these facilities breached strict hygiene standards and carried the risk of contaminating the poultry products with campylobacter, a food poisoning bug often found on raw chicken.

The Food Standards Agency has also launched an inquiry. However, the agency refused to disclose campylobacter rates in supermarkets and processors, citing worries that it could provoke a food scare in the country.