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Further action needed on campylobacter, consumers say
raw chicken
Three quarters of consumers  thought retailers should tell customers what proportion of chickens have the highest level of contamination.
FSA survey shows consumers want the industry to do more

Two thirds of consumers think the industry should continue to tackle campylobacter on chickens beyond the current target, according to a survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Campylobacter is the biggest cause of food poisoning in the UK, causing around 280,000 cases a year.

Since 2014, the FSA has been sampling fresh whole chilled chickens from major retailers and independent shops. Earlier this year, FSA revealed the percentage of chickens with the highest level of contamination had fallen from 19 per cent to 11 per cent.

The current agreed target is 10 per cent, but 66 per cent of consumers who responded to the FSA's survey said they wanted to see further reductions beyond this.

In addition, three quarters of those questioned thought retailers should tell customers what proportion of chickens have the highest level of contamination.

Seventy-six per cent also wanted retailers to be more proactive in telling them what action is being taken to cut campylobacter levels on their chicken, and more than half (53 per cent) said they would buy chicken from another retailer if their usual shop sold more than the average amount of 'high risk' chicken.

FSA has now resumed its campylobacter survey after it was suspended in April so that methods could be updated. The current survey will run until July 2017, during which time 4,000 fresh whole chilled chickens will be sampled from all major retailers and independent shops. The first set of results is expected in January 2017.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.