The
U.S. Agriculture Department is proposing new regulations to make the chicken we
love to eat safer. Health Briefs reports on what is being done to reduce the rates
of salmonella and campylobacter in the breasts, legs and wings we consume.
One
of the ways to better protect consumers from getting ill from bacteria found in
chicken is to ensure that chicken farms practice better sanitary procedures and
farm owners keep a more aware eye on the flocks. The federal agency’s proposal
would require poultry owners to reduce the rates of salmonella from an
estimated 24% now to less than 16 percent. It also suggests sampling should be
taken over a longer period of time.
Health Briefs TV suggests consumers curb the possibility of bacterial illness by
following safe handling of the meat. This can be done by wiping down the
chicken parts before cooking, washing the cutting board or counter where
chicken is prepared and thorough hand washing after handling raw chicken. This may seem like much to do before cooking America’s
favorite bird, but it beats how sick one can get if not done.
The
USDA would also like to make public the list of companies which adhere to the
standards and which do not, which might force more poultry ranches and farms to
comply. And that would be a good thing
for Americans who like chicken.
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