For salmonella, let us spray.
American poultry producers now have a tool to fight the spread of salmonella in their flocks – bacteria. Good bacteria.
And Canadian producers are watching closely.
The concept is simple. Harmless bacteria are sprayed on chicks shortly after hatching. The bacteria quickly populate the digestive and mucus tissues of the little birds so there is no room for salmonella if it arrives on the scene.
The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the pro-duct, called Preempt, for use beginning in May.
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Chicken producers already take steps to protect flocks against salmonella, by keeping clean barns, feeding trays and water supplies. The new technique could mean virtual irradication of the bacteria, said officials with the United States Department of Agriculture.
Canadian producers are interested in the possibilities.
“The whole food industry wants to find ways of eliminating salmonella from the food chain,” said Bob Wiens, of O and T Poultry Farms in Regina. “If this is proven, and I stress proven, it will be a boon for our business.”
Mike Dungate, general manager of the Chicken Farmers of Canada, said he hopes the American experience with the product will fit into his organization’s newly adopted food safety program, scheduled to be implemented in March 1999.
“We need Health Canada to approve Canadian trials of the product. So far one of our board members has indicated he would be willing to hold a barn trial but couldn’t because we are waiting for federal approval. I hope the FDA approval will help get Canadian acceptance,” said Dungate.
Preempt will be distributed in the U.S. by MS BioScience. The company has said it will be approaching Health Canada for the authority to conduct trials in Canadian barns this year.
