National Poultry Day was founded to honour the poultry industry, highlighting the importance of poultry in our diets, economies and cultures. It also recognises the farmers that work in the industry and their contribution to food production across the globe.

Our colleagues work to keep poultry safe for consumers, checking for diseases and ensuring hygiene standards are met. It’s a contribution that often goes unnoticed, but is vital to food safety and public health, making poultry safe for consumers to eat.

We recently shared an article on Campylobacter, which is often found in broiler chickens, and the impact this can have on poultry consumption.

Official Veterinarians (OVs) play a key role in the control of Campylobacter within broiler meat production. OVs pay close attention to compliance with process hygiene criteria, the implementation of effective monitoring and verification systems and the timely investigation of unsatisfactory microbiological results. Where elevated Campylobacter levels are identified, OVs are responsible for ensuring that appropriate corrective actions are implemented and reviewed for effectiveness.

As well as controlling Campylobacter, they also conduct checks which minimise other risks to consumers, as well as safeguarding animal welfare throughout the process.

We are incredibly proud of the impact our colleagues have on food safety and the confidence it gives people to trust the food they enjoy every day.

You can head to our Services page to find out more about the work we do.