The latest FSA survey, carried out between July and September, found that 76% of chicken samples tested positive for campylobacter, down from 83% in the same period last year.
The survey of UK retail outlets found that 15% of samples were heavily contaminated, down from 22% in the same months last year but well above the industry target of 7% at retail.
Nearly 26% of samples from Morrisons were heavily contaminated, followed by Asda samples at 23.5%. The lowest amounts were seen by Waitrose, at 4%, and the Co-op, at 5%.
Survey results at a glance
- Heavy contamination: 15%, down from 22%
- Total contamination: 76%, down from 83%
‘Getting to grips with campylobacter’
FSA director of policy Steve Wearne said: “It is good to see that some retailers are getting to grips with campylobacter. However, we want to see all of them pulling together to achieve real and lasting reductions.
“I am also pleased that we are starting to see retailers and processors being open with consumers about what they are doing to tackle the problem and about the impact their interventions are having on the chickens they are selling.”
But Morrisons is probing the conflict between FSA data and its own campylobacter test results. The supermarket found showed on average only 4.8% of chickens tested had high levels of contamination in 2015.
These first quarter results – from testing more than 1,000 samples – were part of a 36-month survey starting in July.
A year-long survey, which ended in February this year, found that 73% of chickens tested positive for campylobacter, with 19% in the highest band of contamination.
Nearly three-quarters of consumers still do not associate campylobacter with the chickens that they buy, according to a study led by Professor Dan Rigby from Manchester University.
‘Significantly underestimated’ the rate
Rigby said: “Following the headlines – one year ago – about the amount of contaminated chicken on supermarket shelves, we surveyed 900 people and found that only 28% associated campylobacter with poultry and most still significantly underestimated the rate of contamination of chickens for sale in the UK .
“These findings show there is still a huge amount of work to be done to reduce the problem of campylobacter infection; a problem which costs the UK around £900M annually.”
Fresh chicken is judged to be heavily contaminated if there are more than 1,000 colony forming units of campylobacter per gram (cfu/g).
This is the highest band of contamination, while two other bands correspond to less than 100 cfu/g and between 100 and 1,000 cfu/g.
Response from consumer group Which?
“Some retailers have significantly reduced levels of campylobacter, so the pressure is on the others to explain why they have missed these jointly agreed targets. The government and the FSA must ensure all supermarkets step up to the plate.”
- Richard Lloyd, executive director, Which?