FSA tackles Campylobacter sp. with new five-year roadmap

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a fresh assault on foodborne illness with a new five-year strategy for reducing food poisoning.

The FSA proposes to trial new intervention measures in farms, slaughterhouses and retailers, to reduce levels of Campylobacter sp. It will also develop new campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of cross-contamination and the importance of cooking.

FSA indicates that 65% of raw shop-bought chicken is contaminated with this pathogen, with an estimated 300,000 cases of food poisoning every year in England and Wales alone.

As part of the new strategy, the FSA will develop a risk management programme in partnership with industry that to reduce Campylobacter sp. levels in raw chicken at retail. This will be set by December 2010 with the expectation that it can be achieved by April 2015.

A similar programme will also be developed to tackle Listeria monocytogenes, which will involve new research to increase understanding of the risks and drivers of listeriosis to be completed by March 2013 and followed up with an action plan based on the findings by 2015.

Aporte: Andrea Martín

Fuente: http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Food-Safety/FSA-tackles-campylobacter-with-new-five-year-roadmap