22.01.2013

The BBC show Countryfile recently did a show highlighting the dangers of Campylobacter, which according to industry experts may be greatly underestimated.
Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK and incidents are on the increase, with hundreds of thousands of people infected every year.
The FSA (Food Standards Agency) is concerned about the level of Campylobacter found on fresh chicken and did a test in UK shops and supermarkets. The tests revealed that nearly two thirds of all the chicken sold was contaminated. With the increase in the amount of chicken being sold this also means that there is an increase in the risk to the consumer coming into contact with Campylobacter.
Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK. It was responsible for more than 371,000 estimated cases in England and Wales in 2009, resulting in more than 17,500 hospitalisations and 88 deaths. Campylobacter accounts for a third of the cost of the burden of foodborne illness in England and Wales, estimated at more than £583m in 2008.