Germany: Salmonella found in one of six broiler farms
One in six broiler flocks in Germany is infected with salmonella, according to a pilot survey conducted by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).
The study, conducted under the European Commission’s programme to reduce pathogens in poultry meat, found that the observed infection rate in broiler chickens was 17.5%, placing Germany in the upper range in comparison to other EU members.
A total of 408 flocks in all federal states with broilers were examined. The samples were taken from flocks with between 750 and 24,000 chickens in line with the EU provisions. The data from 378 flocks from farms with at least 5,000 chickens were then evaluated.
BfR scientists identified 18 different types of Salmonella. The study also examined which antibiotics the individual strains are resistant to. Some of the pathogens were not sensitive to up to 10 of the 17 antimicrobial substances examined.
The results of the study will be passed on to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for evaluation, together with data from other EU member states. The goal is to develop a joint European strategy to control zoonotic agents and, more particularly, Salmonella in poultry flocks.
“In order to reduce the risk to consumers of Salmonella infection from poultry meat, the next step will be concerted action to markedly reduce the Salmonella contamination of broiler stocks,” said the BfR.
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