Sampling preparation for FSA's campylobacter study
Stomacher paddle blenders and accessories from supplier Seward have been used in the preparation of samples for microbiological analysis as part of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) latest UK-wide study into the levels of campylobacter contamination on fresh retail chicken.
The project was undertaken by FSA using both public and private microbiology laboratories to produce the data. The samples processed were chicken skin and sponge swabs taken from chicken carcasses.
The FSA is working with government and industry to try to reduce the incidence of campylobacter in chicken by 2015, a target which reports suggest the sector will struggle to achieve.
The Stomacher paddle blender was used to process both chicken skin and sponge swabs in order to maximise bacterial recovery at the pre-enrichment phase.
The protocol adopted stressed the need for preventing cross-contamination between samples, which the methodology also safeguards through the use of irradiated sterile Stomacher bags.
Contact: Seward
