Release Ref: B001
Release Date: APPROVED
COMBATING THE KILLER CAMPYLOBACTER BUG
The risk of transmitting a lethal food poisoning bug that kills 80 people a year and makes a further 440,000 ill can be greatly reduced according to a new study out today.
The world’s first trial, conducted by Biocote in partnership with two leading UK universities, has revealed the risk of cross contamination of the harmful Campylobacter bug in poultry can be reduced using silver antimicrobial technology.
Microbiologist Dr Richard Hastings, who led the study, commented: “Campylobacter is the most commonly reported cause of food poisoning in the UK, with undercooked meats, particularly poultry, the main source of human illness.”
“Any intervention to reduce this killer bug being transmitted from poultry to humans can only be good news. Three quarters of British chickens sold are contaminated with Campylobacter according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). This costs the economy £500 million a year in NHS bills and through loss of working days.”
The independent study, commissioned by antimicrobial specialists Biocote, compared the levels of bacteria and Campylobacter on crates used to transport chickens from farms to processing plants. The headline result found average counts of bacteria were 14 times higher on the crates not treated with antimicrobial protection.
Continued Dr Hastings: “Transportation crates used to carry chickens are known to get contaminated with Campylobacter and can cross contaminate, infecting unrelated flocks. By treating the crates with Biocote’s antimicrobial technology, it can help reduce this happening by up to 99%.
The trial was carried out with Anglia Autoflow – the UK’s leading supplier of poultry transportation crates whose clients include Bernard Matthews. Swabs were collected in triplicate from ten treated and untreated crates at key points throughout the decontamination process: pre-wash (once the birds were removed) post-wash, post sanitisation and then 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours post sanitisation (representing when the crates were re-circulated to pick up new flocks).
At all points of the trial (pre, during and post decontamination), the crates treated with Biocote’s silver antimicrobial protection were shown to be considerably less contaminated than the standard crates. Of the 90 swabs taken from both crate types, 44 from the untreated crates contained Campylobacter, compared to only one from the treated crates. The study also revealed that cleaning and sanitisation had no long term decontamination effect.
Barry Landymore at Anglia Autoflow, said: “By using Biocote technology, we hope to reduce the number of Campylobacter on our crates, leading to cleaner, more hygienic and ultimately safer poultry transportation.
“We are not saying it’s a complete solution to the problem, but it certainly should be seen as one part of an overall strategy. Ultimately, by reducing the level of Campylobacter being transported around the poultry rearing and processing system, it will reduce the risk of potential outbreaks faced by farmers and food processors.
“The results of this trial have implications for the wider food industry as well, as it suggests there is potential to incorporate silver antimicrobial technology in other products used in food production to reduce the risks of cross contamination.”
Biocote technology is based on silver, which is a safe, natural antimicrobial, commonly used in wound dressings to reduce the risk of infection. For more information visit www.biocote.com.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
BioCote
BioCote incorporates a unique silver ion technology into products at the time of manufacture, providing built-in antimicrobial protection for the expected lifetime of the product. Ideal for environments where hygiene is essential, BioCote® antimicrobial protection reduces levels of bacteria and mould on surfaces by up to 99.99% and is effective against a wide range of microbes, including MRSA, E. coli, Salmonella.
Further details
For more information, contact: Russell Clarke or Sammi Edwards on 0121 454 9707 or email: Russell.clarke@hroc.co.uk / sammi.edwards@hroc.co.uk
10 November 2009
BioCote® proven to work in real-life environments.
As experts in our field, BioCote Ltd is leading the way in research and evidence-based studies to demonstrate the antimicrobial performance of BioCote® protected products not only in lab tests but also in real life environments.
