Producing the Best Quality Poultry to the Highest Possible Food Safety Standards
The Minister for Agriculture Food & the Marine Michael Creed T.D. today launched a report by the Campylobacter Stakeholders Group chaired by Professor Patrick Wall and whose membership were drawn from across the poultry meat sector. The group’s remit was to ensure that collective actions were taken across the entire supply chain to further improve biosecurity and other standards and minimise any risk of Campylobacter infection from poultry meat.
Over the past two years the group initiated and recommended a number of actions, including the development of an optimum bio-security protocol for growers, consideration of new post harvest interventions by commercial processors, educating consumers, and enhanced surveillance.
In thanking the stakeholder group today the Minister commented “In Ireland we pride ourselves in being a centre of excellence for food production and we must always be conscious that the protection of public health is paramount. Responsibility for producing safe food rests with all the stakeholders along the food chain and I commend all the members of this Group for working collaboratively to ensure everything that can be done, is being done, to deliver the best quality chicken produced to the highest possible food safety standards to Irish consumers. I would like to thank Professor Patrick Wall for chairing the Group and those who gave so much of their time and vast expertise towards producing this report and its recommendations.”
He continued, “My Department is supportive of this proactive approach to raising standards above the legal requirements and ensuring and the best possible food safety outcomes and that the very strong reputation of Irish food is maintained. I am pleased to be able to provide some assistance by way of €17m earmarked by the Department for a specialised pig and poultry investment scheme under TAMS II. This is a journey of continuous improvement and I encourage the stakeholders to continue to seek new solutions and new risk management strategies as the science evolves.”
Professor Patrick Wall said “This Stakeholder Group brought all the stakeholders together to share their knowledge and implement a process of continuous improvement taking on board the latest scientific developments to ensure the safest product possible is delivered to Irish consumers. Consumers expect the industry to do everything to protect their health and the health of their families and this proactive collaboration to address the challenge of campylobacter is a model of good practice for the entire agri-food industry.”
Notes for Editors
Campylobacter is the commonest cause of bacterial food poisoning in Ireland, and throughout the EU, and presents a challenge to public health authorities attempting to reduce the incidence of human disease. The bacteria is found in pigs, cattle and poultry, but it is acknowledged that poultry meat is the most significant source of Campylobacter causing infections in humans.
Chair of the Committee
Professor Patrick Wall
Group Members:
Vincent Carton Manor Farm/Carton Bros
Justin Carton Manor Farm/Carton Bros
Tom Horan Manor Farm/Carton Bros
Joyce Johnston Manor Farm/Carton Bros
Eugene Lannon Western Brand
Diarmaid Kirby Western Brand
Kieran O Regan Shannonvale Foods
Conor Nyhan Shannonvale Foods
Ursula Lavery Moypark
Anne Richmond Moypark
Aaron McKenna Moypark
Gary Keraney Safe food
Michael Maloney Bord Bia
Frank Judge Bord Bia
Nigel Renaghan IFA
Michael Duffy IFA
Robert Malone IFA
Thomas Burke IBEC
Ciaran Cunningham Agrihealth Vets
Rebecca Mc Alister St Davids Vets
Liam Walsh St Davids Vets
David Evans Aldi
Samantha Broderick Aldi
Ruth Dalton Musgraves
Ray Bowe Musgraves
Karen Munnelly Craft Butchers
Dermot McGrath Tesco
Tracey Mc Dermot Tesco
Selena Burke BWG
Elaine Clohosey BWG
Trish Twohig Iceland
Paul Burke Dunnes Stores
Denise Lord Gala
Aoife Harrison Lidl
Patrick Wall UCD
Michelle Burke Devenish Nutrition (Secretary)
Other participants:
Martin Blake DAFM
David W Nolan DAFM
John Egan DAFM
Martina Kearney DAFM
Clare Faulkner DAFM
Mark Mc Carthy DAFM
Donal Sammin DAFM
Lisa O Connor FSAI
The report may viewed by clicking HERE
To view this Press Release as a PDF: DAFMPR 83/2017 (pdf 377Kb)
The Minister for Agriculture Food & the Marine Michael Creed T.D. today launched a report by the Campylobacter Stakeholders Group chaired by Professor Patrick Wall and whose membership were drawn from across the poultry meat sector.
Date Released: 10 May 2017