March 7, 2007

New control system in Denmark can identify contamination in meat
 

A preliminary evaluation of a new control system aimed to stop salmonella- and campylobacter-infected meat in Denmark shows that eight out of 52 imported poultry consignments were regarded as hazardous to health.

The consignments that came from France, Poland and Holland, were sent back to the producers. The control system covers poultry, pork and beef. However, imported poultry products have proved to be the most problematic group of meat products.

Denmark has as the first country within the EU tested a so-called Case-by-case control system to stop salmonella -infected meat. The system was tested from November 2006 to January 2007. Under the pilot project, the Danish food authority Fødevarekontrollen examined a total of 89 consignments of imported meat and 49 consignments of Danish meat. Nine of the imported consignments were considered hazardous to health.