Egg Hygiene Flashcards
What three main pieces of legislation regulate egg production?
Regulation (EC) 1234/2007 - controls salmonella
(EC) 617/2008 - marketing standards for hatchings
(EC) 589/2008 - marketing standards
Were do the legislations not apply?
Hobby farmers (under 350 hens)
Who enforces the legislations?
The egg marketing inspectors in England and Wales
Define class A eggs
Fit for direct human consumption
What are the characteristics of class A eggs?
Shell and cuticle are normal shape, clean and undamaged
Air space not exceeding 6mm
Yolk visible on candling
White is clear with no foreign bodies
Can class A eggs be washed or chilled below 5’C before grading?
No
What is the sizing of eggs?
XL - over 73g
L: 63-73g
M: 53-63g
S: under 53g
Is a class B egg fit for human consumption?
Not until it has been pasteurised
What type of eggs are class B?
Eggs from salmonella positive flocks
Damaged or unclean eggs
What happens to ungraded eggs?
They can be supplied directly to the producer
What information is printed on the egg?
Farming method
Country of origin
Farm ID
Quality standards eg. Lion for the UK
What does the red lion symbolise?
Eggs are produced from chickens that have been vaccinated against salmonella enteritis
What does the national control plan mean?
Eggs from flocks that have confirmed salmonella (enteritis and typhimurium) cannot be sold as fresh shell eggs
Each batch (or consignment) of imported eggs must..
Be from an approved country
Enter the EU through a boarder post where they must pass veterinary checks
Be accompanied by a public health certificate
How can we prevent salmonella?
Restiock with birds from reliable sources Routine salmonella sampling Decontaminate feed Vaccination Pest control Good biosecurity
Describe salmonella
Gram -ve non-sporulating
Member of enterobacteria
How long can salmonella survive in the environment?
Up to 72 months
How can a farm increase its biosecurity to salmonella?
Control of rodents: Baiting
All in all out system- allows for thorough cleaning
Foot dips and clean overalls for each barn
Controll access of vehicles to the farm
How can flocks be vaccinatesd against salmonella?
Live attenuated vaccine to stimulate the humeral and cell mediated immunity
Three doses at: 1 day old, 2-6 weeks and then prior to onset of laying
Is blanket use of antibiotics allowed for chickens?
No, only use is to treat specific diseases
What is dysbiosis?
Microflora imbalance that leads to prolonged excretion and possible reinfection of salmonella (check)
What other methods can farmers employ to prevent salmonella in their flock?
Acid-treated feed
Sanitised water (UV, Acid, Filtration, Chlorination)
Competitive exclusion products (not when using live attenuated vaccines)
Air disinfection with chloramide T
Control Red mites
Who says the best before date must be stamped on eggs?
The British Lion Code of practice
What does the zoonoses order 1989 state?
Isolation of salmonella from animals, carcases, feed etc should be reported to DEFRA/AHPA
What is the most important thing in controlling salmonella
Rodents!
Describe the campylobacter bacteria
Gram -ve, Motile, spiral shaped rod
Commensal of many animals
What are the most common zoonotic campylobacter species?
C. Jejuni (+++)
C. coli
C. Lari
How many cases of campylobacter can be attributed to poultry?
Up to 80% of cases are due to raw poultry.
50% of supermarket chickens tested positive.
Will campylobacter infect young chickens?
Rarely infects chicks under 2 weeks old
Due to a lag phase that might be because of maternal antibodies/ microflora
How infective is campylobacter to chickens?
Extremely (around 10 cells)
Rapid colonisation of the whole flock within 24-48h due to coprophagy and airborne spread
Can campylobacter be controlled using modified atmosphere packaging?
Not really
Can irradiation of carcases help control campylobacter?
Eliminates the campylobacter but leaves a rancid odour
Can freezing of carcases help control campylobacter?
It works but people want fresh chicken
How are we currently controlling campylobacter at a retail level?
Shaming retailers via a yearly FSA report
What methods of biological control can we employ to control campylobacter?
Viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophage) Predatory bacteria (Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus)
Where is C. Coli most often found?
Poultry and pigs
