February 18, 2008

Australian poultry farm in danger of business closure due to salmonella outbreaks
 

A poultry farm linked to a salmonella outbreak should not be shut down because it is possible that the disease occurred after the eggs left the factory, said health leaders of Tasmania state of Australia yesterday.

The State Government has been under pressure to shut down the poultry farm.

The Department of Primary Industries said Pitts Poultry was most likely the supplier of eggs that was believed to have caused more than 40 gastric flu cases last month, and several other outbreaks from 2005 to 2007.

Public health director Roscoe Taylor said it is possible that salmonella had occurred after the eggs left the southern farm.

According to Taylor, Pitts had improved their processing and their operations were stricter than other egg farms. Salmonella could also be inside the eggs while they develop within a chicken, which would be difficult to handle.

Health minister Lara Giddings said the cause and source of the salmonella has not been determined, and that shutting down a business should be a last resort.

Tasmania's biosecurity and product integrity general manager Alex Schaap said that Pitts was involved.

Meanwhile, the Restaurant and Caterers Association of Tasmania said it had not been informed of new egg-handling regulations until they were announced on Friday (February 15, 2008).