Cleaner farms, better flocks

Monday 19 January 2004

FSA targets chicken farmers with best practice hygiene measures

Ref: 2004/0450

The Food Standards Agency will today target chicken farmers across the UK with best practice advice on hygiene measures on the farm. A leaflet, Cleaner Farms, Better Flocks, will lay the foundations for further advice, all of which will aim to improve the control of campylobacter on the poultry farm.

Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK. Evidence also shows that chicken is a major source of the bacteria in people's kitchens. The FSA advises consumers to ensure chicken is always cooked thoroughly as this will kill any bacteria. However, improving control on poultry farms is key to the Agency's Campylobacter Strategy and will help reduce the number of contaminated birds entering the kitchen.

FSA studies have shown that although hygiene standards on poultry farms are generally good, some of the most basic hygiene measures are not always followed. To help ensure that best hygiene practice is followed at all times, the Agency has targeted poultry farmers with a leaflet, Cleaner Farms, Better Flocks, along with a poster highlighting the key messages:

• keep livestock away from poultry houses
• only allow essential visitors into houses
• use dedicated boots for each house
• wash or disinfect hands before and after each house visit
• keep houses free of vermin

Dr Judith Hilton, Head of Microbiological Safety at the FSA, said: 'Good basic hygiene is an essential first step to controlling campylobacter on farms. We know that the chicken industry has made great efforts to improve hygiene over recent years, and the successful reduction of salmonella shows what can be achieved. Even though hygiene standards are generally high, lapses do occur and the FSA wants to make sure that best practice is followed at all times.'

The poster and leaflet have been developed in conjunction with chicken farmers and other poultry-industry stakeholders, as well as with Defra, and have also been endorsed by UK Agriculture Departments. Further Agency initiatives will provide poultry farmers with more detailed information on best practice and promote more specific measures for controlling campylobacter.