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A survey will be undertaken to determine the proportion of free-range/organic to intensively reared flocks produced in the UK and their processing in abattoirs.
<p>Experimental studies concerning aerial contamination of poultry carcasses will be carried out in designated poultry processing plants and practices in place to reduce cross-contamination will be assessed.
<p>In collaboration with project M01039, molecular methods will be developed, validated and, if successful, used to determine the prevalence and persistence of campylobacter strains during production and between production interventions.
Campylobacter is a hazard in poultry slaughterhouses. Control steps that have been proposed include testing and scheduling flocks that have tested positive for campylobacter after negative flocks and /or processing extensively reared birds on a separate line or at the end of the day.
<p>In order to inform the effectiveness of these controls the role of cross-contamination in the poultry slaughterhouse needs to be more fully understood in both quantitative terms and persistency.
<p>In addition, the effectiveness of cleaning methods at the end of production and within production needs to be determined. Uptake of any practical control strategies arising from this project should contribute to the Agency's target to reduce campylobacter in poultry.
<p>Find more about this project and other FSA food safety-related projects at the <a href="http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/" target="_blank">Food Standards Agency Research webpage</a>.