Salmonella: a nightmare for pig and poultry professionals
Sci-Tech
Agriculture
Salmonella is one of the main causes of food poisoning in the UK. In 2019, it was responsible for 8398 confirmed cases, although it is assumed that this number is actually significantly higher (Salmonella Annual Report, 2021).
Salmonella is one of the most identified serotypes in pigs, poultry, and humans worldwide. It is important to test for Salmonella in animal products regularly to safeguard humans, maintain animal welfare and health, mitigate production losses, remain compliant, and uphold safety in the food chain. Read on to find out more about Salmonella and its dangers, how to prevent and monitor its presence, the Lion Code of Practice, and how Sci-Tech can help.
What is Salmonella and why is it so dangerous?
Salmonella, of the family Enterobacteriaceae, is a genus of rod-shaped (bacillus) Gram-negative bacteria. There are over 2,500 serotypes known today and, as Salmonella is an intracellular pathogen, some of these cause illness. It can be present in a range of foods, including chicken, pork, eggs, fruit, or vegetables.
Symptoms usually start within 12-36 hours after being in contact with the contaminated food, with the time period before symptoms appear known as the ‘incubation period’. These symptoms can include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. In most people, they are relatively mild and improve within 4-7 days without any specific treatment.
Salmonella also affects the livestock themselves. Outbreaks of disease can adversely affect animal health and welfare, as well as have a terrible impact on productivity and profitability for the producer if corrective measures are not swiftly taken.
Preventing and monitoring the presence of Salmonella
The biggest thing producers can do to prevent outbreaks of Salmonella and other diseases is to enforce stringent biosecurity protocols at their farms and other facilities. There are multiple steps in the production process where these pathogens can be contracted or be transmitted, from pre-harvest to the consumer. Outbreaks could be a threat to public health, animal health and welfare, and brand reputation. It’s therefore worth putting in the effort to minimise the likelihood of contamination through safe practice, consistent monitoring, and fully vaccinated animals.
The poultry National Control Plan (NCP), issued by the UK government, sets out a Salmonella control framework for poultry producers. This programme is mandatory for keepers of 50 birds and over, and the guidelines cover the requirements for broilers (eating birds), breeders, and layers (egg producers).
In addition to the NCP, egg producers and testing laboratories must comply with the Lion Code of Practices (2022). Guidelines include:
- The guarantee that all Lion hens and eggs are British
- Hens vaccinated against Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium
- Registration and a unique ‘passport’ system, ensuring complete traceability of hens, eggs, and feed
- Increased hygiene controls and salmonella testing of all flocks in the integrated egg production chain, in excess of the NCP, including turnaround swabbing of breeding, pullet rearing and laying flocks, and packing centre hygiene swabbing
- Regular egg testing
- Stringent feed controls, including production of feed to Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) standards
- Lion Quality eggs stamped on farm with the farm code and production method
- Best-before date and Lion logo printed on the shell of Lion Quality eggs as well as on the egg box
- Regular independent auditing, including unannounced audits, of all producers and packers in the Lion scheme, in accordance with the ISO 17065 standard.
As part of these frameworks, there is a list of approved laboratories that provide anonymised data to DEFRA to monitor the levels of Salmonella in UK flocks. They are also registered to comply with the requirements laid out in both the NCP and Lion Code to support businesses throughout the livestock sector. These laboratories must be UKAS accredited and DEFRA approved, which ensures stringent quality controls and quality assurance, and that the screening of samples is carried out to an extremely high standard. Sci-Tech is proud to take part in these schemes.
How Sci-Tech can help
Farmers are required to screen livestock to maintain compliance, as well as to remain productive and profitable and keep the animals happy and healthy. Sci-Tech undertakes UKAS accredited serology and microbiology analysis to help customers identify and treat infection quickly to prevent the impact of disease on the herd or flock. For more information, visit our website.
References
https://www.egginfo.co.uk/british-lion-eggs/lion-code-practice
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