Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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Another good reason to avoid factory-farmed chickens and eggs!
Government study shows Salmonella levels over five times higher in intensive 
egg production than organic
PRESS RELEASE 01/30/2008 (version 3)
http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/848d689047cb466780256a6b00298980/8dd352307058db47802573cb0050806a!OpenDocument


The Soil Association can reveal that a recent government survey [1] shows 
that organic laying hen farms have a significantly lower level of Salmonella. 
Salmonella is a bacterium that causes one of the commonest forms of food 
poisoning worldwide. [2]

The study showed that 23.4 per cent of farms with caged hens tested positive 
for salmonella compared to 4.4 per cent in organic flocks and 6.5 per cent in 
free-range flocks.

The research also showed that the highest prevalence of salmonella occurred 
in the largest holding size category (30,000 birds or more). This was over 
four times the average level of salmonella found in flocks closer to the 
maximum size allowed under Soil Association organic standards. [3]

These results support Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his ‘Chicken Out' 
campaign to improve the welfare standards of chicken production. [4] It also 
adds weight to the argument that although ‘free-range’ production would 
certainly be a positive step forward, it is still some way behind the Soil 
Association's organic poultry systems [5], which ensure truly free range 
birds and offer the highest standards of animal welfare as acknowledged by 
respected animal welfare groups such as Compassion in World Farming.

Emma Hockridge, Soil Association policy department said:
“Anyone watching Hugh and Jamie reveal the appalling conditions millions of 
chickens endure in the cramped, windowless sheds of factory farms will be in 
no doubt that organic and free-range chickens have a better life.

"This research confirms the Soil Association’s view that there are serious 
potential human health implications from such intensive systems. Whilst 
Salmonella food poisoning can be avoided through proper cooking of eggs and 
meat, anything that reduces the incidence of this bug should be encouraged – 
like genuine free-range, organic farming.”

Ends

For media enquiries please contact:
Soil Association press office 0117 914 2448 / press@soilassociation.org

Notes to editor:

[1] Survey of the prevalence of Salmonella species on commercial laying farms 
in the United Kingdom Published in The Veterinary Record (2007) 161; 471-476

[2] Around 15,000 cases of Salmonella are reported to the UK’s Health 
Protection Agency (HPA) each year. 
http://194.74.226.162/hpa/news/articles/press_releases/2004/041005_salmonella.htm
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40024928

[3] Intensively farmed chickens reared for meat can be housed in flocks 30 – 
40,000 strong. Even the RSPCA’s Freedom Food standards allow 16,000 
egg-laying birds per house, and there is no limit on flock size for 
free-range meat birds.
In contrast, Soil Association organic standards recommend flock sizes of 500 
- with absolute maximum flock sizes of 1,000 for meat birds and 2,000 for egg 
birds allowed only with special permission and additional management measures 
in place.

[4] Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Chicken Out campaign: 
http://www.chickenout.tv

[5] Some battery egg operations have as many as half a million birds. Most 
battery cages house four or five birds, each with about as much room as an A4 
sheet of paper. All animals on Soil Association organic farms must have 
access to outdoor ranges and pasture, with an emphasis on enabling the 
animals to express their natural behaviour. Unlike intensively reared birds, 
organic chickens can't be given routine doses of antibiotics which weaken the 
animal’s natural immune system so increasing reliance on drugs, as well as 
being linked to creating antibiotic resistant ‘superbugs’ with serious human 
health implications.

There are now approximately 29 million egg-layers in the UK over 70 per cent 
of which are housed in battery cages. Today three-quarters of the UK’s eggs 
come from fewer than 300 units, each with 20,000 or more layers.

Batteries not included - executive summary:
http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/d39dda83e1f3c019802570ad005b4516/c34bd66834fb014380256df60043d53f!OpenDocument