Raw meat packaging 'could contain food-borne bacteria'

Categories: Food Health and Safety |


Raw meat packaging 'could contain food-borne bacteria' Workers in the catering and food manufacturing industries and those who handle food should wash their hands regularly to avoid spreading bacteria which causes food poisoning, a research team has suggested.

According to a study by trading standards officers in Birmingham, packaging encasing raw chicken can contain campylobacter bacteria both inside and outside the protective plastic layer.

In a survey of 20 supermarkets, butchers and convenience stores, the team found 40 per cent of all packaging containing the meat in the city was carrying the germs.

Nick Lowe, who led the team, commented: "Our message to consumers is that handling the packaging should be regarded as just as likely to cause food poisoning [as] touching the raw meat."

He noted that the contamination is likely to take place during the manufacturing and shipping stages of the supply process.

Employees who routinely handle raw meat could don safety gloves in order to avoid spreading food-borne infections.
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