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Campylobacter research programme launched
A four-year investigation into campylobacter has been
launched by food safety officials and researchers in New Zealand, in the hope
that the number of human cases of campylobacteriosis may be
reduced.
The team will investigate the possibility that New Zealand has its own
unique strains of the bacteria, and whether the prevalence of the bacteria in
poultry may be linked to other farm livestock, including dairy cows.
The study will also examine how the bacterial load in broiler chickens can
be reduced.
"We believe that if we can reduce the numbers of bacteria on poultry meat
and reduce the percentage of meat that carries campylobacter, there is a very
good chance that the proportion of campylobacteriosis attributable to food will
also reduce," said
Food
Safety Authority executive director Andrew McKenzie.
The food safety programme from 2006 to 2009 will also include major
campaigns to improve hygiene practices in both hand washing and food
preparation.
Editor WorldPoultry
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