Poultry products "safe to eat", says MEP
06 April 2006
Jim Allister MEP has echoed medical advice in stating that there is no risk to consumers in eating either cooked poultry meats or cooked eggs. Jim Allister MEP made the comments following the death of a wild swan on the east coast of Scotland. The swan died of the H5 avian influenza virus. Jim Allister MEP commented,
“The Foods Standards Agency considers that avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. It is safe for consumers to continue to eat both eggs and poultry meat provided that they have been fully cooked. This advice reiterates long-standing advice about cooking poultry and eggs thoroughly to kill bugs.
My biggest concern is the impact that the recent news will have on poultry sales throughout the UK. The arrival of bird flu to other regions of Europe reduced the sales of poultry products. If this happen in the UK it will have a negative impact on our poultry sector and could have a significant impact on the Northern Ireland economy.
It is no great surprise if bird flu has arrived into the UK. This disease has been quickly spreading across Europe and it was a question of when it arrived in the UK and not if it arrived. I believe that the Government has made necessary plans to prevent the spread of the avian flu from wild birds into the UK poultry flock. I hope that the Government now take reasonable and proportionate steps in affected areas to ensure that the disease does not get into commercial poultry flocks.”
