A recent report suggests that adjustments to sampling protocols at low-throughput slaughterhouses are improbable to yield a substantial reduction in the prevalence of Campylobacter cases in the UK. The study’s findings indicate that there is no statistically significant variance in the proportion of highly contaminated samples collected from low- and high-throughput slaughterhouses. The threshold for high contamination is set at more than 1,000 colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g).
In-depth analysis was conducted to assess the comparative risk of campylobacteriosis associated with products originating from low and high-throughput poultry slaughterhouses.
Campylobacter, the predominant cause of bacterial foodborne illnesses in the UK, accounts for an estimated 300,000 cases annually, with over half of these cases traced back to poultry meat consumption.
Within the UK, there are a total of 38 registered low-throughput slaughterhouses and 22 high-throughput counterparts. However, among these, only 34 provided Campylobacter samples for the study.
The study, conducted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), involved the collection of fifty samples from low-throughput slaughterhouses over a ten-week period spanning from September to December 2021. This additional data was acquired to complement information furnished by food businesses to the agency. During the specified timeframe, seventeen slaughterhouses from each category submitted their findings.
The examination of these samples revealed that low-throughput facilities recorded 197 instances out of 934 samples surpassing the 1,000 CFU/g threshold, while high-throughput plants documented 352 out of 1,972 samples exceeding this level.
Notably, two establishments, one classified as low-throughput and the other a sizable processor, exhibited a concerning trend, with over 60 percent of their samples registering counts above 1,000 CFU/g. Regulations stipulate that this occurrence should not exceed 30 percent or 15 out of 50 samples.
Scientists associated with the study projected that even with a shift to bi-weekly or monthly sampling intervals, the identification of non-compliant slaughterhouses surpassing the 15 out of 50 threshold would still be possible. However, such adjustments would prolong the timeline for issue detection and could potentially overlook certain non-compliant slaughterhouses. Moreover, there could be an impact on operational behaviors, as less frequent sampling might influence processing standards.
Nevertheless, the report reveals gaps in information pertaining to the rearing methods of poultry prior to their arrival at the slaughterhouse and the ultimate recipients of the products within the subsequent distribution chain. Information regarding low-throughput abattoirs was limited to a three-month span and encompassed the terminal phase of the slaughtering process.
Researchers also highlighted inconsistencies in the application of sampling requisites within low-throughput slaughterhouses and a dearth of comprehensive data regarding corrective measures taken upon the identification of elevated contamination levels.
