EFSA’s opinion will help risk managers in setting measures to reduce campylobacteriosis, the most reported food-borne disease in Europe.
Campylobacteriosis accounted for 198,252 human cases notified in 2009[1] in the EU. However, this disease goes largely unreported and the effective number of cases is believed to be around nine million each year. The cost of campylobacteriosis to public health systems and to lost productivity is estimated to be around 2.4 billion euros each year across the EU.
Chickens are an important source of campylobacteriosis in humans[2]. Chicken meat, in particular, accounts for 20-30% of total human cases. In the opinion, the BIOHAZ Panel experts evaluated the impact of measures that could help reduce the presence of Campylobacter in chickens before and after slaughter.
EFSA’s experts say that measures before slaughter could reduce the risk by up to 50%, although this figure is expected to vary considerably between Member States. Such measures focus mostly on preventing the bacteria from entering the housing in which the chickens are kept and on reducing the number of Campylobacter in the intestines of chickens sent to slaughter. The experts also listed a series of additional options which were found to be effective when implemented in conjunction with these measures. These options include: using fly screens, reducing the age at which chickens are sent to slaughter and discontinuing thinning practices (as humans entering chicken housing may carry bacteria from outside).
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