Search Results (5)

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) identified extended-spectrum β-lactamase/AmpC β-lactamase (ESBL/AmpC)-producing E. coli as one of the main priority hazards for poultry. Different studies detected ESBL-producing E. coli at broiler fattening farms and in abattoirs, concluding that poultry meat is a potential source of human infection. Broiler breast skin samples taken in three abattoirs with different scalding techniques were examined for ESBL-producing Escherichia (E.) coli and their phylogenetic groups. A total of 307 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were found, and the abattoir with conventional immersion scalding with thermal treatment of the water had the lowest incidence. Phylogroups D/E and B1 were mostly detected, while phylogroups C, D, and E were not detected. Phylogroup B2 was detected in low proportions. The phylogroups B2 and D are important as they have been associated with urinary tract infections in humans, but were only detected in low proportions at different processing stages in this study. Since the risk for the consumer of being infected via chicken meat with ESBL-producing E. coli and E. coli of highly pathogenic phylogroups cannot be excluded, good kitchen hygiene is of great importance. Full article

The poultry industry has met more than one-third of the human demand for meat and all the demand for eggs during the past several decades, and it has also been recognized as a very efficient sector in the livestock industry. However, increasing poultry production has also led to the massive generation of various poultry wastes, which are a great threat to climate change, environmental safety, and human health. Traditionally, landfilling and burning are the most frequently used techniques for treating poultry waste. With rich contents of organic matter, nutrients, and keratin, poultry waste can be applied to produce value-added products that can be used in many sectors by using a variety of emerging technological processes. Considering the massive generation, profound environmental pollution, and wide range of applications of poultry waste, this paper categorizes poultry waste as litter and manure waste, feather waste, mortality waste, abattoir waste, and hatchery waste. This paper also reviews modeling and simulation studies on poultry waste-to-wealth, and six current or emerging technological processes for poultry waste-to-wealth are described: anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, gasification, hydrolysis, enzymatic treatment, and microbial conversion. Finally, the economic, environmental, and social impacts of the sector of poultry waste-to-wealth are discussed. For further research, we suggest a focus on the poultry waste-to-wealth projects in different regions, the behavior strategy of different stakeholders, and policymaking for the commercialized application of poultry waste-to-wealth technologies. Full article

Background and aim: The poultry meat and its products are considered ideal media for bacterial growth and spoilage, as they are highly nutritive with a favorable pH. The food industry has focused its attention on a great diversity of plant species as food preservatives. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157: H7, and Klebsiella pneumonia in food samples and to evaluate of the antibacterial activity of some medicinal plant extracts against these bacteria. Methods: Raw and processed meat samples (n = 60) were collected from abattoirs and local markets. S. aureus, E. coli O157: H7, and K. pneumonia were isolated, identified by phenotypic methods, and then confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The antibacterial activity and spectrum of essential oils and spices powder of cumin, black seeds, cloves, cinnamon, and marjoram was determined against the isolated strains in this study by microbial count and well-diffusion techniques. Results: A total of 33 isolates have been identified as S. aureus, 30 isolates were identified as E. coli O157: H7, and 15 isolates were identified as K. pneumonia. S. aureus, E. coli O157: H7, and K. pneumonia could be detected in both fresh and processed food with higher prevalence in the processed meat. There was a significant decrease in microbial count in treated samples either with the spices powder or essential oils of the tested medicinal plants compared to control samples during storage time period. Furthermore, while the microbial count increased in the control samples, the microbial count decreased to reach zero in almost all treated samples with essential oils after 15 days of storage. Conclusion: S. aureus, E. coli O157: H7, and K. pneumonia are associated with food from animal sources, in either fresh or processed meat samples. The prevalence of them was higher in the processed meat than in fresh meat. The essential oils and spices powder of cumin, black seeds, cloves, cinnamon, and marjoram have an in vitro wide spectrum antibacterial activity with the highest antibacterial activity for the black seeds. Full article

The use of the black soldier fly (BSF: Hermetia illucens) as a means of upstreaming waste has enjoyed increasing research the past few years. One of the uses of the resultant larvae is as animal feed, with particular success achieved when fed to mono-gastric animals. Most of the research has been on the use of BSF as feed in poultry and fish species. In poultry, larvae were produced on abattoir waste, kitchen waste or faecal matter (human and animal manure). The insects were grown until harvest as larvae, pre-pupae or pupae. The post-harvest processing included freezing, drying and/or milling. Where the poultry were fed Iso-nitrogenous/Iso-energetic diets containing various proportions of BSF, no differences in production performance or carcass yields (breast-, thigh-yields) were found. As pertaining to meat quality, no differences for initial pH or ultimate pH of the meat were noted. Differences for breast colour measurements were found; larvae fed chicken breast meat was generally lighter and redder whilst results on the breasts’ water binding capacity was inconclusive. For sensory attributes, no differences were observed except for juiciness and sustained juiciness. Sometimes a metallic flavour was noted, particularly on larvae fed on abattoir wastes. Manipulating the larvae’s diet as a strategy to change the chemical composition of the poultry has focused on attempts to change the fatty acid profiles and yielded mixed results; irrespective of the fatty acid profile, the fat of BSF larvae contains large amounts of lauric acid; known to have profound antiviral and antibacterial activity. Full article

The poultry abattoir industry continues to grow and contribute significantly to the gross domestic product in many countries. The industry expects working shifts of eight to eleven hours, during which workers are exposed to occupational hazards which include physical hazards ranging from noise, vibration, exposure to cold and ergonomic stress from manual, repetitive tasks that require force. A PubMed, Medline and Science Direct online database search, using specific keywords was conducted and the results confirmed that physical and ergonomic hazards impact on abattoir processing workers health, with harm not only to workers’ health but also as an economic burden due to the loss of their livelihoods and the need for treatment and compensation in the industry. This review endeavours to highlight the contribution poultry processing plays in the development of physical agents and ergonomic stress related occupational diseases in poultry abattoir processing workers. The impact includes noise-induced hearing loss, increased blood pressure, menstrual and work related upper limb disorders. These are summarised as a quick reference guide for poultry abattoir owners, abattoir workers, poultry associations, occupational hygienists and medical practitioners to assist in the safer management of occupational health in poultry abattoirs. Full article