A recent study done by a third party testing organization revealed that around 80% of the poultry that is sold in grocery stores are contaminated with pathogens.
The testing company, which was commissioned by a Seattle Law Firm, presented results that showed the presence of pathogens in most of the chicken that is sold in various grocery stores. The pathogens most commonly found were Campylobacters and the possibly deadly Salmonella. Around 10% of the chickens tested were found to be positive for Staphyloccocus aureus, the kind that is drug-resistant to some antibiotics.
In the testing, which was commissioned by food safety legal specialists, Marler Clark, one hundred random samples of whole chickens were tested and showed to be positive for the different bacteria. The areas tested were in Seattle, Lynnwood, Shoreline and Mountainlake Terrace in Washing. A total of 17 retail stores were tested, from Whole Foods to Safeway. None of the stores got a commendation for having uncontaminated chickens. This result is in parallel with several similar tests done by other agencies in various grocery stores around the United States. Results of those tests also found that a majority of meat products, including poultry, tested positive for drug-resistant bacterial contamination.
In the previous year, reports also showed that about two-thirds of whole chickens bought at grocery stores tested positive for Campylobacter or Salmonella. According to Richard Lobb, spokesperson for the National Chicken Council, the poultry processing industry has already done a very good job of lowering the number of pathogens present in poultry products. He added that because chicken is raw, it still needs to be handled and cooked properly in order to avoid health incidences involving pathogens.
Leave A Comment