Mairead McGuinness Fine Gael MEP

EU figures released today show that human salmonella cases have been almost halved in just five years. Mairead McGuinness, Ireland East Fine Gael MEP and a member of the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee says this arises from a series of pro-active measures.

In 2004, there were 196,000 cases of salmonellosis reported in humans but the number of cases fell sharply to 108,000 by 2009.

“This remarkable reduction demonstrates the effectiveness of the EU campaign to reduce salmonella, in conjunction with Member States, through a range of comprehensive measures.

“While the implementation of quality control regulations can be daunting for producers initially, from the perspective of quality food production, this impressive result is good news for consumers and producers,” said the MEP.

Salmonella can be contracted through the consumption of inadequately prepared poultry products with very serious health effects in some cases.

McGuinness explains that in 2003, a commitment was given to reduce incidences of salmonella and measures were put in place. “In flocks of poultry, targets for reduction of Salmonella were set, Member States introduced control programmes and restrictions on the trade of products from infected flocks were imposed.

“Vigilance must be maintained so that further inroads are made into reducing the incidences of salmonella,” she said.