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Pork popularity rising in foodservice

Chloe Ryan — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 09:51:59 +0000

The out-of-home food sector saw good growth in the year to March 2017.

According to NPD CREST the value of the industry is more than £54 billion, increasing by 2.9% year-on-year. Eating out is one way in which increasing numbers of consumers are saving time, particularly for breakfast and lunch occasions. Research has pointed to consumers spending more time commuting to and from work and more time spent in the workplace. For many, time is becoming a scarce resource in modern life, one that they are looking for ways to reclaim.

In the year to March 2017, 6.6 billion out of-home servings of proteins were made in the UK, an increase of 255 million servings compared to the previous year. 40% of out-of-home eating occasions included a protein. Over the last two quarters pork and beef are being chosen more often by those eating out, pork is now in 16.2% of meal occasions and beef 14.2%.

Proteins associated with breakfast have been an important part of the growth for total pork over the last year. Bacon servings increased by 11% to 904 million and sausages by 6% to 437 million.

A significant contributor to beef sales has been burgers, 960 million of which were sold in foodservice, an increase of 24 million. Big burger chains have increased sales solidly over the last year, but beef burger sales value is still being boosted by small and medium chains and the popularity of gourmet burgers. Both pork and beef are benefiting from the growth in popularity of Quick Service Restaurants, which is the biggest out-of-home food channel.

Foodservice outlets are responding to changes in the way UK consumers want to eat. It is important those involved in the supply chain from the farm upwards also understand their customers and consumer trends. There are opportunities for farmers, foodservice is growing market and one that they should be involved with. Please note though, the fortunes of foodservice have in the past been matched to the economy and consumer confidence. Any downturn may affect the performance of this sector.

Undercooked pork the most common cause of Hepatitis E – EFSA

Alistair Driver — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 09:11:23 +0000

Consumption of raw or undercooked pork meat and liver is the most common cause of Hepatitis E infection in the EU, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Official advice continues to be, however, that thorough cooking of pork products will reduce the risk of illness from harmful foodborne bacteria and viruses like hepatitis E.

More than 21,000 cases of Hepatits E infections have been reported in humans over the last 10 years, with an overall 10-fold increase in this period, EFSA said in its latest opinion on the virus.

Rosina Girones, chair of EFSA’s working group on HEV, said: “Even if it is not as widespread as other foodborne diseases, Hepatitis E is a growing concern in the EU. In the past, people thought the main source of infection was drinking contaminated water while travelling outside the EU. But now we know the main source of transmission of the disease in Europe is food.”

Domestic pigs are the main carriers of Hepatitis E in the EU. Wild boars can also carry the virus, but meat from these animals is less commonly consumed, EFSA said.

EFSA’s Panel on Biological Hazards is recommending that member states increase awareness of public health risks associated with raw and undercooked pork meat and advise consumers to cook pork meat thoroughly. The panel is also stressing the need to develop suitable methods for detecting the virus in food.

This scientific advice builds on a previous scientific opinion on the occurrence and control of foodborne viruses published in 2011.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has also published a report on Hepatitis E in humans which assesses testing, diagnosis and monitoring methods and reviews available epidemiological data.

NPA response

National Pig Association (NPA) senior policy advisor Georgina Crayford said: “Pigs are a natural reservoir for hepatitis E and infection is present in pig populations worldwide.

“The EFSA report reinforces the existing FSA advice to consumers about cooking pork safely. Ensuring pork and pork products are cooked thoroughly will reduce the risk of illness from hepatitis E.

“The EFSA report also highlights that while most cases were reported in France, Germany and the UK this is because these countries have established and consistent surveillance systems, which stands us in good stead for carefully monitoring this emerging public health issue.

“NPA welcomes the call from EFSA for more research into suitable methods for detecting hepatitis E in food as this will help us to ensure British pork remains safe.”

She also highlighted evidence that if people in this country have contracted Hepatitis E virus (HEV) from eating pork, it is likely to have come from imported pork, rather than British pork.

“Research at Public Health England has shown that the subgroup of hepatitis E causing the majority of human infection in the UK is not the same as the subgroup found in UK pigs,” she said.

To see the NPA’s briefing on Hepatitis E, click here

AHDB Pork response

AHDB strategy director for pork Mick Sloyan said: “Although Hepatitis E affects only a very small number of people across Europe, and those that are affected mostly display no or only mild symptoms, the increase in cases needs to be monitored.

“Hep E in the UK is still considered to be low risk by industry experts. Raw and undercooked pork has been highlighted by EFSA as a cause of infection in this very small number of people.

“Our advice is, if you are concerned then ensure that pork, pork products and offal are thoroughly cooked until steaming hot and the juices run clear. Hep E is heat sensitive and is destroyed by proper cooking.

“Despite the very low risk the industry is working together, including the Pig Health and Welfare Council and AHDB, to ensure that British pig production remains safe and operates to the highest standards that are independently audited.”

FSA position

Following recent media reports linking a rise in Hepatitis E infection in humans to imported pork, the UK Food Standards Agency reiterated its advice to consumers about cooking pork thoroughly.

It said: “We always advise that whole cuts of pork, pork products and offal should be thoroughly cooked until steaming hot throughout, the meat is no longer pink and juices run clear.

“This will reduce the risk of illness from harmful foodborne bacteria and viruses like hepatitis E. The risk from acquiring hepatitis E virus (HEV) from eating thoroughly cooked pork or pork products is low.”

More background

Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV)
Most people who contract hepatitis E display no or mild symptoms. However, in some cases especially for those with liver damage or patients with a weak immune system, it can lead to liver failure – which can be fatal
Most cases were reported in France, Germany and UK because these countries have established and consistent surveillance systems
Pigs are a natural reservoir for HEV and infection is present in pig populations worldwide
Samples collected in 2013 as part of a survey of UK slaughter pigs found the virus in 129 out of 629 (20.5%) pigs, while 93% tested positive for HEV antibodies, indicating exposure at some point in life
However, high-level presence of the virus to a level that could be infectious to humans via consumption of the raw pigmeat was only found in 6 of the 629 pigs sampled
In this survey, the majority of the viral samples belonged to a different subgroup to that causing infections in humans.

Defra to jointly fund research into alternative pig stunning methods

Alistair Driver — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 16:31:54 +0000

Defra is jointly funding research into finding alternatives to the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) to stun pigs pre-slaughter.

The Department and the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) are jointly offering up to £400,000 of research funding for a project to develop a more humane way to stun pigs during commercial slaughter.

The stunning of pigs by direct exposure to high concentrations of CO2 is currently common practice for the commercial slaughter of pigs, including in the UK and other EU member states.

However, HSA said research has shown that pigs find direct exposure to high concentrations of CO2 ‘aversive’. It cited a 2003 Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) report on animal welfare which recommended that this method should be phased out.

The following year, a report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed the effectiveness of the method, but noted that it resulted in respiratory distress in pigs. Similar concerns were expressed for poultry and alternative controlled atmosphere systems are now in use within the poultry industry, HSA said.

The association said it and Defra were both committed to improving the welfare of animals at slaughter and that the funding aimed to develop and or validate a ‘more humane method which could replace high-concentration CO2 stunning of pigs’. The project aims to ensure that any proposed method is not only more humane but also practically and economically viable so that it is likely to be widely adopted by the pig industry, HSA said.

HSA’s chief executive & scientific director Dr Robert Hubrecht said: “The HSA hopes that this collaborative funding opportunity with Defra will lead to improvements in the welfare of pigs at the time of slaughter.”

NPA senior policy advisor Georgina Crayford said: “We are pleased funding has been made available for research into new methods.

“We also welcome HSA’s acknowledgement that new methods need to be commercially viable to ensure roll out but, until an alternative is found, CO2 stunning remains best practice.”

The funding opportunity

For further information on the funding and how to apply, see www.hsa.org.uk/grants-awards
Applications and any enquiries about the funding will need to be made through Defra’s electronic tendering portal Bravo – defra.bravosolution.co.uk
Deadline for submissions is 12.00 GMT on Monday, August 28 2017.

Commons EDM highlights need to maintain high UK welfare standards

Alistair Driver — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 14:57:24 +0000

A Parliamentary motion has been tabled calling for Government, the supply chain and consumers to back the UK livestock sector’s high welfare standards post-Brexit.

Daniel Kawczynski, Conservative MP for Shrewsbury & Atcham, tabled the Early Day Motion (EDM), which highlights the need to maintain high British farming animal welfare standards after we leave the EU.

The EDM, a mechanism generally deployed to raise awareness about a particular issue, has arisen from the regular meetings of the UK Livestock Brexit Group, a collaboration of various UK farming organisations, including NPA.

The group is concerned that new trade deals forged after we leave the EU could leave the UK vulnerable to cheaper, lower standard imported products.

In full, Mr Kawczynski’s EDM, which can be viewed here, states:

“That this House commends British farmers for adhering to world leading standards of animal health and welfare within farmed livestock; urges retailers, processors and consumers to support those production standards by sourcing and buying British produce wherever possible; and calls on the Government to ensure that it supports British farmers in maintaining these standards as the UK leaves the EU, whilst fulfilling the Government’s ambitions on efficiency and productivity and protects against the importation of livestock products produced to lower standards of health and welfare in other parts of the world.”

The EDM has quickly gained support from across the political divide, including MPs representing the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party.

The National Pig Association (NPA) is urging members and anyone connected to the pig industry to contact their MPs and encourage them to sign it.

NPA senior policy advisor Georgina Crayford said: “The UK pig industry is rightly proud of its high welfare standards and it is very important that this position is maintained after we leave the EU.

“It is, as the EDM states, about getting consumers, processors and retailers behind our fantastic British pork but also about the Government ensuring it does not expose the country in any new trade deals to cheap imports produced to lower standards than ours.

NFU urges Government to address post-Brexit labour concerns

Alistair Driver — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 13:00:35 +0000

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has urged the Government to address what could be a ‘significant shortage’ of agriculture workers post-Brexit.

According to the NFU’s latest Vision for the Future of Farming report, the supply of seasonal workers for the next two seasons is now in jeopardy. The number of seasonal workers coming to work on British farms this year has already dropped by 17%.

NFU president Meurig Raymond said: “It is crucial that the Government addresses these concerns immediately to ensure that farming has access to a competent and reliable workforce, now and post-Brexit.”

To address the issue, the NFU has suggested the Government adopt a new immigration policy that would allow British farms the flexibility to appoint both seasonal and permanent workers.

“A solution, such as a suite of visa or permit schemes, is urgently needed to avoid losing a critical number of workers that could jeopardise future harvests and food production”, commented Mr Raymond.

The complex nature of oversees recruitment also makes it more difficult for farmers.

“Recruiting overseas workers is not something that can be done instantly. It takes time for businesses to recruit and for seasonal work they typically plan nine months in advance,” added Mr Raymond.

The report also expresses serious concerns about the industry’s ability to maintain an adequate number of permanent workers.

Uncertainty surrounding Brexit has lead to some workers facing unpredictable futures.

As many agricultural workers hail from EU member states, the NFU has urged the Government to clarify its position on EU nationals living and working in the UK.

Mr Raymond said: “The forthcoming Immigration Bill must recognise the importance of migration for certain sectors and Government must recognise the strategic importance of the UK farming industry as the bedrock of the UK’s food and drink industry, worth £109 billion to the economy.

“The NFU would like to see the Government consult extensively with the farming industry on this issue to ensure a solution is reached and as soon as possible.”

Red Tractor members reminded about new vet requirement from October

Alistair Driver — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 07:25:01 +0000

Members of the Red Tractor pigs scheme have been reminded that all vets registered under the scheme must be members of the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) from October 1.

Previously, PVS membership was only required for vets carrying out Real Welfare assessments. The change was announced earlier this year as part of a review of the assurance scheme’s standards, alongside various other changes intended to ensure responsible use of antibiotics and a strengthening of the animal medicine standards.

The changes also require vets to declare they will only prescribe antibiotics for use on Red Tractor pig units in accordance with the PVS Prescribing Principles for Antimicrobials. Another major change will make it compulsory to record quarterly antibiotic usage on the eMB-Pigs database.

Red Tractor technical manager Joanna King said: “Ensuring every Red Tractor registered vet is a PVS member will help keep them abreast of the most recent version of the Prescribing Principles, along with other guidelines and publications.”

Assessors undertaking Red Tractor farm assessments can verify whether the retained farm vet is a current PVS member through their membership number which is required on the quarterly veterinary report forms. Membership numbers can be checked against an online PVS membership checker.

The full set of changes to Red Tractor pork rules from this October can be viewed here

Surge in PEDv cases in Canada prompts warning from NPA

Alistair Driver — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 15:30:50 +0000

The Canadian pig sector has been hit by an ‘unprecedented’ surge in cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv), prompting the NPA to issue fresh warnings to UK pig importers.

Nearly 50 cases have been confirmed in Manitoba since the deadly disease was found to have returned to the province in early May.

Those sites are in addition to the 11 confirmed cases between February 14, 2014 and September 21, 2016, according to the Farm Journal’s Pork.

A voluntary PED testing programme has been put in place at sites that move or handle large numbers of pigs, including livestock assembly yards, federal and provincial abattoirs, truck-wash stations and livestock trailers. As of July 5, 18,936 samples have been submitted for PED testing from 20 ‘high-traffic sites’.

Transport of pigs between the US and Canada has been blamed for the surge in cases, which has been described as ‘unprecedented’.

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has asked the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to examine its transportation protocols. CFIA discontinued a pilot truck washing protocol a year ago that was implemented after the initial 2014 outbreak, according to the Producer.

There are concerns the outbreaks could jeopardise the lucrative Canadian live pig export trade to the US, which has borne the brunt of the disease. A US outbreak that started in 2013 has killed an estimated eight million pigs and pushed up retail pork prices.

PEDv, which has also wreaked significant damage in other parts of the world, causes severe dehydration and diarrhea in pigs, and is generally fatal to young animals.

Imports protocol

NPA senior policy advisor Georgina Crayford urged anyone involved in importing pigs to ensure they follow the measures set out in NPA’s recently updated Import Protocol, which is compulsory under Red Tractor standards.

She said: “The continuing spread of this devastating disease highlights the need to be vigilant and to ensure we take all the necessary precautions when importing pigs.

“The situation in Canada also highlights the need to ensure biosecurity is up to scratch on farms and, of course, when transporting pigs.”

She also reminded members that this is the type of issue the Significant Diseases Charter was set up for.

AHDB has a web page that includes a number of Standard Operating Procedures, which outline best practice and methods of controlling PEDv.

Pig industry steps to reduce antibiotic use praised by VMD

Alistair Driver — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 09:34:24 +0000

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has praised the efforts being taken by the pig industry to reduce its antibiotic usage.

Speaking at a conference on reducing antibiotics in farming hosted by Innovation for Agriculture, Paul Green (above), the VMD’s director of operations said the UK Government saw addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a ‘ key, key challenge’.

The Government’s latest national security risk assessment identified AMR as a ‘Tier 1 risk, up there with terrorism, climate change and global flu pandemics’, he said.

He explained how the Government’s antibiotic strategy aimed to address the risk of transmission of resistance from animals to humans and to preserve the veterinary antibiotics for the future. “It is only really with good stewardship that we will prevent more untreatable conditions,” he said.

Mr Green outlined the work being done through the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) Targets Task Force in setting sector specific targets and said the poultry sector has been at the ‘vanguard of good stewardship’ for many years before praising the pig sector’s recent progress.

“The pig sector has also been very active,” he said. “The electronic medicine book, which the latest figures show now has 70% coverage of the national herd, was launched last year and was followed up by the (NPA’s) antibiotic stewardship strategy. Data from the pig sector show there have been dramatic falls in the use of Colistin and quite sharp falls in the use of antibiotics in feed for young pigs.”

He stressed, however, that more needs to be done across the livestock sectors and urged farmers and vets to ‘talk to each other about antibiotic use, farm health planning, biosecurity and disease prevention’.

He added that the 50mg/kg livestock industry-wide target for antibiotic usage, which the industry is on course to meet, was ‘just the start’, ahead of sector-wide targets to be announced in October. “My own view is that we have quite a way to go,” he said.

Brilliant progress

NPA senior policy advisor Georgina Crayford (left) told the audience of farmers and animal health experts gathered at the event in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, that the pig industry was ‘really proud’ of the ‘brilliant progress’ made over the past year or so in rising to the antibiotic challenge.

On top of the 70% coverage under eMB-Pigs, the 70% reductions in Colistin use and the halving of antibiotics in piglet feed, Dr Crayford also highlighted Pig Veterinary Society prescribing principles ensuring that Critically Important Antibiotics are used only as a drug of last resort in pigs.

Overall pig industry usage is believed to have fallen significantly in 2016 and the first half of 2017. But she acknowledged that the pig industry, the highest using sector despite representing only 10% of livestock biomass, faced some ‘inherent challenges’ in addressing its antibiotic usage.

“Further progress is achievable but it might not be as quick as some people were hoping,” she said.

She highlighted the need to stimulate greater awareness among farmers about the need to act to protect the use of antibiotics for their own pigs’ health and public health as well’.

She added: “There has also been a distinct lack of investment in the pig industry, which means farmers have just not been able to modernise their systems and move away from habitual prophylactic use of antibiotics. But those challenging discussions between farmers and vets are now starting to happen.”

“But we will need time – reductions are not going to happen overnight. We need this attitudinal shift among producers and we need support from retailers and processors. They must not make antibiotics a competitive issue.”

Intensive farming link?

Dr Crayford also refuted the suggestion from Coilin Nunan (left), of the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics, of a link between intensive farming systems and higher antibiotic usage.

Calling for ‘urgent action to reduce farm antibiotic use’, including a ban on preventative treatments and limits on CIAs, he said: “Antibiotic use can be significantly reduced without changing farming methods, but even lower levels can be achieved in organic and other extensive farming systems.”

But Dr Crayford said equating production systems with antibiotic use was ‘far too simplistic’. “There is much wider context. Pig producers are running a business and they need to produce at a price point the consumer is willing to pay for.”

She also pointed out that high-tech, hygienic modern pig buildings can support reductions in antibiotic usage, as has been the case in Denmark and Holland, while high welfare straw system can sometimes be harder to keep free of infections.

Daylesford ham recalled after listeria found

Chloe Ryan — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 08:16:28 +0000

Daylesford is recalling Rosemary & Thyme Roast Ham and Smoked Black Ham because Listeria monocytogenes has been found in the products.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said all pack sizes with use by dates between July 20 and 25 were being recalled.

Problems were detected during routine weekly laboratory analysis of ham production. A spokesperson for Daylesford said that recalling the product had been a ‘precautionary measure’ and that all further tests had come back clear.

Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products and consumers are advised to return the ham for a refund.

Symptoms caused by the organism are similar to flu, including: high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. In rare, more severe cases, it can cause meningitis.

Individuals with weaker immune systems, aged 65 or over, pregnant women and babies who are less then one month old, are at increased risk.

Daylesford have confirmed that no other hams were affected.

AHDB Pork publishes practical guide to environmental enrichment

Alistair Driver — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 07:15:19 +0000

AHDB Pork has published a guide to help producers provide the best environmental enrichment within a wide variety of housing and systems.

Its practical Guide to Environmental Enrichment for Pigs is now available in hard copy and online and is free to levy payers.

It provides information based on the knowledge and experience of farmers, as well as researchers and scientific literature on the different ways environmental enrichment can be provided for differing types of housing and pigs, for both indoor and outdoor producers.

The information is set out in sections by housing type and, in each, the types of enrichment that are most suited to each system are discussed, their key properties, how to present the enrichment, quantities, and practical considerations too, such as ease of installation, maintenance and costs.

The online version is available here and you can email to obtain a copy of the handbook.

What constitutes appropriate enrichment?

The legislation surrounding the provision of environmental enrichment does not stipulate what does and doesn’t constitute appropriate enrichment.

“What is most important is that it is provided in a sufficient quantity to enable proper investigation and manipulation activities, as well as being safe for both pigs and stockpersons,” AHDB Pork said.

It is currently working on finding a suitable method for determining whether or not enrichment in a pen is meeting the needs of the pigs – click here for more info. Research being conducted as part of FareWellDock, a European project, is also looking at what quantity of chewing and rooting material is sufficient to satisfy the pigs’ need to explore.

Red Tractor Farm Assurance standards stipulate that chains alone are not acceptable – they may only be used when in conjunction with other objects or material.