IPPE 2014 to host poultry handling, transportation, quality assurance workshop

As part of the 2014 International Production & Processing Expo education line-up, Pennsylvania State University and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association will again host a Poultry Handling and Transportation Quality Assurance "Train the Trainer" Workshop for poultry transporters and catch crews. The registration fee for the workshop is $250 and is limited to 30 participants.
The Poultry Handling and Transportation Quality Assurance (PHTQA) program provides third party certification training, which gives employees and contract crews an understanding of poultry welfare, good management practices and biosecurity, emergency planning, media training and preparation for outside audits. PHTQA is offers a combined certification and "Train the Trainer" workshop specifically for those individuals wishing to become PHTQA certified trainers.
The IPPE, the world's largest annual poultry, feed and meat industry event, will be held January 28-30, 2014, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The Poultry Handling and Transportation Quality Assurance "Train the Trainer" Workshop is scheduled from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2014. 

Maple Lodge Farms faces charges in chicken deaths

Canadian chicken processor Maple Lodge Farms is facing 60 criminal charges from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency due to alleged violations of federal animal health regulations in the wake of thousands of chicken deaths between December 2008 and February 2009, and December 2009 and April 2010.
According to the charges, the chickens died from exposure to cold conditions during transportation from farm to slaughterhouse, often because of proximity to a truck trailer's floor or walls. Maple Lodge has emphasized that it does everything it can to ensure the humane transportation of its chickens. “We have very stringent protocols in place regarding the transportation of animals,” said company spokesperson Carol Gardin. “At the end of the day, it’s not only moral and ethical considerations regarding the humane handling of the birds, there’s a financial incentive to keep the birds in the best health.” From January to June 2011, Maple Lodge accrued 26 administrative monetary penalties from the CFIA and paid $120,600 in fines. 

Poultry and Egg Institute releases driver safety DVD program

U.S. Poultry and Egg Association's Poultry and Egg Institute released a driver training DVD program to assist companies in complying with federal motor carrier safety regulations.
The program, “Pre-Trip, Post-Trip Inspections,” is designed to aid companies in complying with portions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CSA 2010 program, which increases the accountability of both the carrier and the driver for motor carrier safety.
The video takes the driver through a step-by-step process to meet the requirements of an effective vehicle inspection process and helps drivers develop a consistent approach to inspections, according to Poultry and Egg Institute. The video was developed by Paul Pressley, executive vice president of industry programs, and safety management personnel from U.S. Poultry member companies.
DVD versions are available online, at no charge for U.S. Poultry and Egg Association members and $200 for non-members.

UK targets campylobacter in chickens

Britain’s seven major supermarket chains have been told by the national Food Standards Agency that they should review and improve the way they buy poultry, after a survey reported finding campylobacter bacteria in 65% of samples of chicken in UK retail stores. Supermarket executives from Asda, Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury, Tesco and Waitress have received a letter from the agency asking for the retailers’ cooperation to reduce the level of campylobacter in chickens sold to levels found in other countries.
The agency is already working with British processors on improvements to plant hygiene and biosecurity measures and on possible packaging solutions, such as modified atmosphere packaging. It will host a conference in March to look at further options for the post-processing treatment of birds and meat.
The agency is also part of a campylobacter joint working group with representatives from retailers and the poultry industry.
Recently, the European Food Safety Authority stated that 20% to 30% of human cases of campylobacteriosis in the European Union may be due to bacteria picked up from broiler meat.