FSAI reminds Irish meals companies to adjust to meals security practices for chilled and frozen coated poultry merchandise

The Meals Security Authority of Eire (FSAI) is reminding meals companies, together with producers, wholesalers, and retailers to make sure that sturdy meals security administration programs are in place for the manufacturing and provide of chilled and frozen coated poultry merchandise positioned on the Irish market. It’s additional directing producers to make sure that chilled and frozen coated poultry merchandise embody acceptable cooking directions and are clearly labelled as non-ready-to-eat.

The FSAI can be recommending that customers undertake the next actions when making ready chilled and frozen coated poultry merchandise:

·       Cook dinner completely: All the time comply with the cooking directions on the packaging and be sure that the meals is cooked completely, the inner temperature on the core of the meals (that is the thickest a part of the meals) have to be 75°C or greater.

·       Observe good hygiene: Wash arms completely with cleaning soap and water earlier than and after dealing with uncooked poultry and clear all meals contact surfaces and utensils with sizzling, soapy water after use.

·       Retailer safely: Hold merchandise on the acceptable temperature as indicated on the label.

This reminder and recommendation follows findings from a nationwide microbiological survey*, carried out in 2022, of 382 chilled and frozen coated poultry merchandise, which detected the presence of Salmonella Infantis in 5 merchandise positioned on the Irish market. The bacterium was detected in hen goujons, fillets, and balls, together with uncooked, partially cooked, and totally pre-cooked objects. Meals security threat administration actions have been taken to scale back the chance introduced to client well being.

Salmonella is a bacterium that poses a major well being threat if merchandise are usually not cooked or dealt with correctly. It’s among the many main world causes of foodborne diseases. Because the survey findings indicated that imported poultry was a potential reason for contamination, the FSAI is reiterating to producers that they need to guarantee stringent controls throughout the complete meals provide chain. This contains full traceability of all uncooked supplies used within the manufacturing of chilled and frozen coated poultry merchandise and that they need to adjust to the authorized microbiological necessities related to utilizing uncooked poultry to make these merchandise. Customers are additionally strongly suggested to make sure that all meals security practices are strictly adopted when making ready and cooking non-ready-to-eat, chilled and frozen coated poultry merchandise, to minimise the chance of contamination.

Commenting on the findings of the survey, Greg Dempsey, Chief Govt, FSAI, highlighted the vital position of strict meals security controls and offering clear pointers to shoppers by the producers. He mentioned: “The survey findings emphasise the significance of producers and meals companies adhering to and fulfilling their authorized meals security obligations. It’s incumbent upon these sourcing and offering these merchandise to have the requisite checks and balances in place to minimise the chance of contamination and potential risk to client well being. Whereas the prevalence of Salmonella contamination stands at 1.3% of the general pattern dimension, it stays the case that every one meals companies and producers should proceed to be vigilant, comply with greatest apply always and safeguard every level alongside the meals chain.”

“Producers should be sure that they supply clear pointers to shoppers on the meals label. We’re conscious from earlier analysis findings that many shoppers don’t strictly comply with cooking pointers or keep correct hygiene practices when dealing with chilled and frozen coated poultry merchandise. Customers have an essential position to play and they should comply with the cooking directions on the meals label, wash their arms earlier than and after dealing with these merchandise and likewise retailer them on the right temperature. These frozen and chilled coated poultry merchandise can usually be uncooked merchandise and the identical meals security practices ought to be utilized within the context of dealing with, cooking, and storing them as we do with a uncooked hen fillet or uncooked complete hen, for instance,” added Greg Dempsey.