OPINION ▶▶▶
EU must help to protect the food chain
Having the job of protecting the food chain from disease is like being an air traffic controller: no one notices when you do it right, but as soon as something goes wrong, and there is an outbreak of food poisoning or airplane crash, everyone is aware.
BY SOLVITA GULBE, ANNA ĒRLIHA, LATVIAN EGG PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION F
ortunately, both foodborne outbreaks and airplane crashes are very rare occurrences in Europe, thanks mainly to the hard work and attention paid by indi- viduals whose efforts the public rarely notice. Pro-
tecting animal feed from bacteria is a prime example of a vital part of ensuring food safety that most people never think about. Feed is one of the main sources of infection for diseas- es such as Salmonella, and without assiduous care from farm- ers, poultry, eggs and feed producers, an outbreak is a very real danger. Feed producers and farmers take this risk very seriously, and in Europe we have been extremely successful in cutting down Salmonella over the last 20 years. Between 2004 and 2008 we cut Salmonella rates in half. This is without a doubt one of the greatest public health successes in Europe, and one that most people will have never heard about.
Variety of tools The reduction in Salmonella was achieved by using a variety of tools for pathogen control. One of these tools, and without a doubt the most effective for protecting animal feed from Salmonella infection, is the chemical formaldehyde. This or- ganic chemical, naturally found in fruits such as pears, can be dangerous in large quantities. However, when used correctly it provides incredible protection against Salmonella in animal feed. Its use is perfectly safe for consumers, and is supported by agencies including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the US Food and Safety Administration (FDA). As with other chemicals, workers handling the substance have to take safety precautions. This is supported by the Commis- sion’s own worker safety body (SCOEL), which sets safe expo- sure limits for formaldehyde and gives guidance on its safe use. Moreover, companies and producers, who use disinfect- ants containing formaldehyde in the production of bird feed, have excluded direct and prolonged contact with this sub- stance, as all the formaldehyde addition process takes place in a closed system. The way formaldehyde is used does not endanger health of workers or animals.
Associations of poultry and egg farmers and feed producers from around Europe came together to sign an open letter to Commission Phil Hogan, entreating him not to remove this vital tool for protecting the food chain from infection.
8 ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 2, 2018
Concerns ignored Despite the importance of formaldehyde in fighting Salmo- nella, the European Commission last year put forward a
PHOTO: FRED LIBOCHANT
PHOTO: HENK RISWICK
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