Hello, friends! Today, let’s chat about a food safety topic that’s super important: keeping our chicken meat safe from a germ called Campylobacter.
When food scientists look at different ways to keep chicken meat safe, they find that it’s not so easy to manage this tricky germ. They have tried many methods to make chicken safer, but some work a little bit, while others don’t make much difference at all.
Big groups like the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization are also looking closely at this issue. They came together to figure out the best ways to stop germs like Campylobacter from getting onto our plates.
Experts met in Rome in February 2023 at a special meeting to talk all about chicken and Campylobacter. They looked at every step, from when the little chicks are born all the way to when we cook the chicken at home.
They discussed many ways to keep germs away, like having super clean farms and giving chickens healthy food with special ingredients to protect them. When the chicken gets processed, they use cold temperatures or even special lights to try to zap the germs away.
But guess what? The best way to keep chickens safe from germs is actually by making sure the farms are really, really clean. This means keeping everything tidy and not letting germs sneak in.
Now, there is no vaccine just yet for the chickens, but scientists are working on it! And when it comes to cleaning the chicken, they found that how much dirt is on the chicken and how they use cleaning chemicals can make a big difference.
Also, when the chicken is being processed, there are certain parts like taking off feathers or taking stuff out of the chicken that can make it easier for germs to spread.
In kitchens like the ones in restaurants, it’s super important for cooks to wash their hands and keep everything clean to stop germs from getting into our food. This means cleaning chopping boards and tools really well.
The experts say you should combine different ways of cleaning to make sure the chicken is as safe as it can be.
But there’s still more work to do. Even though they’ve found some good ideas, they need to test them out to see if they can do it in big factories too.
That’s all for now! Remember, it’s our job to keep learning and make our food even safer for everyone. Keep an eye out for more food safety tips and remember to always cook your chicken well to keep those germs away! Happy cooking, everyone!