February 14, 2022
Danish researchers focus on producing chicken meat with lower levels of Campylobacter
Researchers in Denmark are part of a project that is going to develop and test ways of producing chicken meat with lower levels of Campylobacter.
Chicken is one of the main food sources of Campylobacter infections in Denmark and Europe. Illness affects about 4,500 Danes each year. However, many cases are never reported and researchers believe the actual number is about 10 times higher.
In the SafeChicken project, researchers from the DTU National Food Institute and DTU's Department of Chemical Engineering will work with Danish chicken producer Danpo and Icelandic company Thor Ice Chilling Solutions.
Free range flocks of broiler chickens are more often Campylobacter-positive than conventional flocks. This is because they roam outside, where the bacterium occurs naturally. Existing measures for conventional broilers such as increased biosecurity and fly nets are not practical for free range and organic broiler chickens.
Project partners will test methods in different parts of the production chain of organic and conventional broilers by adding substances to the chickens' feed and water which have the potential to prevent the growth of Campylobacter in poultry; reducing prevalence of the bacteria in the environment with a new decontamination technology; and decreasing bacteria on carcasses by using a cooling system.
Some methods have already been tested and have shown promising results on a small scale under controlled conditions. To ensure they are applicable in practice, researchers will investigate and document their effectiveness under normal production conditions.
They will also assess the extent to which each measure can help lower the risk of humans becoming infected from Campylobacter.
Danish authorities have national action plans to reduce the risk of contracting Campylobacter infection. The target for 2018-2021 was a 50% reduction compared to 2013 but this goal has not yet been reached.
- Food Safety News
