DEFRA works with poultry firms to keep avian flu at bay

Moy Park is “delighted” that poultry process workers will be involved in early warnings on avian flu after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) invited Transport and General Workers’ Union (T&G) representatives on to the Stake Holders’ Avian Influenza Group.

The decision was made at a meeting between the T&G and government minister Ben Bradshaw, which was strongly supported by the UK’s three largest poultry processors: Moy Park, Grampian and Bernard Matthews. “This brings together every key section in the business on something that causes concern to all. It is excellent news,” said a spokesman for Moy Park.

“The minister listened carefully to what we had to say and agreed that poultry workers are ideally placed to detect changes in the birds they deal with,” said T&G national secretary Chris Kaufman. “Involving our people is a positive move for them, but also a significant confidence boost for the consumer. It means they can be sure production workers have their finger on the pulse of food safety.”

Bradshaw said DEFRA should work with the workers to ensure that steps were taken to provide flu jabs or whatever was deemed appropriate. Kaufman agreed: “There is a consensus across government and the industry that we must set and keep high standards to ensure consumer confidence.”