FSA survey finds 70% of chicken sold by UK retailers is contaminated

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has released results from its year-long survey of campylobacter in fresh chickens, which revealed that almost 70% chickens tested positive for the bacterial presence.

The agency stated that campylobacter is the most common form of food poisoning in the UK, affecting around 280,000 people a year. Its major source is poultry and can be killed by thorough cooking.

A total of 1,995 samples of fresh whole chilled chickens have been tested. Data show variations between retailers but none are meeting the end-of-production target for reducing campylobacter.

According to the findings, 78% of the examined chicken from Asda tested positive for the bacteria. The agency has named individual retailers for the first time in a bid to improve food standards.

FSA has said that tacking campylobacter poisoning is its top food safety priority and this survey is an effort to bring together the whole food chain to tackle the problem.

The survey also found that 18% of the examined chickens tested positive for campylobacter above the highest level of contamination and 6% of packaging tested positive for the presence of campylobacter with only one sample at the highest level of contamination.

The year-long survey, which started in February 2014, will test 4,000 samples of whole chickens bought from UK retail outlets and smaller independent stores and butchers.

FSA Director of Policy Steve Wearne said: "These results show that the food industry, especially retailers, need to do more to reduce the amount of campylobacter on fresh chickens.

"Although we are only half-way through the survey, 18% of birds tested had campylobacter over 1,000cfu/g, the highest level of contamination, and more than 70% of birds had some campylobacter on them. This shows there is a long way to go before consumers are protected from this bug.

"If chicken is cooked thoroughly and preparation guidelines are properly followed, the risk to the public is extremely low. There are signs that some retailers are starting to step up to their responsibilities. When more do, we will see the sustained improvements that will help prevent many of their customers getting ill."

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Image: An estimated 70% of chicken being sold by UK retailers tested positive for campylobacter in a survey by the Food Standards Agency. Photo: courtesy of FSA.