According to the results of food safety tests by Food Standards Agency, about three quarters of fresh chickens that are sold in supermarkets apparently contain a potentially lethal food poison bug campylobacter. Based on the results, the worst contamination rate for this is found in Asda where about 8 in 10 birds are found to be positive for campylobacter bug. Most of the fresh chickens there are also found to be contaminated.
Even though this situation has been reported, none of the major supermarkets have met the target specified to reduce the number of chickens that are campylobacter contaminated. Due to this situation, the FSA took matters in their own hands and went ahead with their naming strategy which purported a drop in chicken sales in the past few months. A statement from director of FSA, Steve Wearne, said that although campylobacter dies by thorough cooking, the consumers must never risk their health for this as it is found that poultry is a major source of food poisoning cases. Consumers must ensure that the food they eat is healthy and of course, safe.
This high number of campylobacter-contaminated chickens simply says that farmers, food processors and supermarkets are not doing their best to protect consumers as instead of decrease in numbers, it is continuously increasing. For that reason, the FSA advises consumers to be even more vigilant in choosing the food that they serve to their families. Just simply picking foods from the shelves and comparing prices are not enough. They must know where the products come from and what they are made of. Otherwise, it may result in possibly lethal implications.
Farmers, processors and supermarkets must work together with FSA in order to prevent and reduce the increasing numbers of chickens contaminated with campylobacter. If they are able to reduce their contamination rates, then others can rid their chickens with campylobacter poison bugs as well.
