UK retailer Tesco has pledged to reduce the levels of campylobacter bacteria in its fresh chicken products, following research that found that levels had fallen to less than 9 per cent in the third quarter of the year. This is down from 15 per cent in the same period last year.
The move follows a summer pledge by Tesco to work in partnership with suppliers to ensure that at least 95 per cent of its chicken products would have minimal levels of campylobacter by 2017.
"With over 91 per cent of our chicken now testing negative for the highest levels of campylobacter, we are clearly demonstrating our commitment to tackle the issue and how we want to remain at the forefront of any developments to improve the quality and safety of our chicken," said Tesco group quality director Tim Smith. "It is also testament to the hard work of our suppliers to tackle the issue."
Tesco also updated its chicken packaging at the end of last year to ensure that food-safety messaging was more prominent.
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
