Risk of campylobacteriosis from low-throughput poultry slaughterhouses: Appendix

7.1 Sampling methods

Sampling results are provided in Annex I.

7.1.1 FSA survey

In order to answer the risk question, a survey of Campylobacter spp. in low-throughput poultry slaughterhouses that had not provided sampling results was set up. Sampling from the low-throughput slaughterhouses followed the Process Hygiene Criteria so as to match the sampling in high-throughput slaughterhouses. Sampling occurred weekly and was contracted out by FSA to Official Veterinarians and Campden BRI.

The samples were taken from the neck skin by the Official Veterinarian at the slaughterhouse after chilling of carcases. The samples were collected weekly for 10 weeks over September 2021 to December 2021 from 11 slaughterhouses. 

15 neck skin samples were pooled into 5 x 26g samples for Campylobacter testing. Two plants did not provide neck skin samples – V and W – due to the type of processing employed, namely, skinning in feather. The carcases were swabbed instead. 5 ceca samples were also collected weekly from all plants. Plant S only provided caeca samples. The samples were sent to Campden BRI for testing. In brief:

Neck skins from a minimum of 15 poultry carcases were sampled at random after chilling during each sampling session. Before examination, the neck skin samples from at least three poultry carcases from the same flock of origin were pooled into one sample of 26 g. 

Skinned in feather – not enough neck skin to sample, so swabbed instead

The samples were transported to the laboratory at a temperature not lower than 1 °C and not higher than 8 °C. The time between the sampling and testing for Campylobacter was less than 48 hours, in order to maintain sample integrity.

As laid out in the PHC, the 26 g test portion was transferred to nine volumes (234 ml) buffered peptone water at room temperature. The mixture was then treated in a stomacher or pulsifier for approximately one minute. Foaming was avoided by removing the air from the stomacher bag as much as possible. 10 ml (~ 1 g) of this initial suspension was then transferred to an empty sterile tube and 1 ml of the 10 ml was used for the enumeration of Campylobacter on selective plates. 

Participating plants: B, H, J, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, V, W, AF  

7.1.2 FBO survey

FBOs are responsible for weekly testing and these need to follow the Process Hygiene Criteria. Results are reported to the FSA as: 

• 100CFU/g or below
• above 1000CFU/g
• above 100CFU/g to 1000CFU/g
• 1000CFU/g or below

Full enumeration levels are not provided.

7.2 Slaughterhouse throughput

Table 10: Slaughterhouse throughput, 2021.* plants for which no samples are available. 

7.3 Estimate of contaminated poultry on market

Table 11: Estimate of highly contaminated poultry per year from high-throughput slaughterhouses, based on multiplying throughput data with the observed prevalence of high Campylobacter levels.

Table 12: Estimate of highly contaminated poultry per year from low-throughput slaughterhouses, based on multiplying throughput data with the observed prevalence of high Campylobacter levels.