August 2, 2006

EU sets targets to reduce salmonella in eggs, poultry

The European Union Tuesday (Aug 1) sets targets to reduce the level of salmonella in egg-laying hens and ban supermarket eggs from infected flocks by 2010.

EU countries that do not reduce salmonella levels in their hen flocks will face trade bans from other member countries.

By January 2008, countries with more than 10 percent rate of infection in hens must vaccinate all their-egg laying hens against salmonella. The goal is to stop all such eggs being sold by 2010.

There are more drastic reduction targets for countries where incidences of infection in poultry flocks are more prevalent.

The level of salmonella present in poultry flocks reached 79 percent in Portugal, 77 percent in Poland and 73 percent in Spain, according to a recent study from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Member governments will determine the specifics of how to monitor and control salmonella levels. The EFSA discourages the use of antibiotics, which contributes to the development of more resistant strains of bacteria.

Salmonella is a common type of food poisoning. About 90 percent of human salmonella infection comes from eating eggs. The transmission of salmonella between farm animals can be reduced if the animals' water and feed are clean and monitored for traces of the bacteria.