It also found salmonella bacteria on every chicken farm
where it gathered samples.
Campylobacter are a dangerous food-poisoning bacteria.
Its survey was done in Ontario, British Columbia and
Alberta.
Here’s what FoodNet reported this week:
“In 2014, Campylobacter and Salmonella remained
the most common causes of human enteric illness in the sentinel sites.
“Campylobacter was the most prevalent pathogen
found on skinless chicken breast in all sites with close to one-half of all samples
testing positive.
“Across all three sites Salmonella is the most
commonly found pathogen in chicken nuggets, with more than one-quarter of all
samples testing positive.
“Salmonella prevalence on skinless chicken
breast ranged across the sites from 15 – 26 per cent.
“In ground beef, VTEC (verotoxic E. coli) remains
at a low prevalence. Pork chops appear to contain the pathogens of interest
(Campylobacter,Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes) at relatively low
levels.
“Fresh-cut fruit sampling showed that these
products are rarely positive for the parasites, viruses and bacteria tested.
“On farm, Salmonella was commonly found in
broiler chickens in all sites. Salmonella was also found in turkey in
the B.C. site, but at a lower prevalence than in the broiler chickens.
“In turkey in the B.C. site, Campylobacter was
again the most common pathogen found in 2014, as in 2013.
“Campylobacter was also commonly found in beef
and dairy manure samples in the Ontario site, as in previous years.
“Campylobacter prevalence in broiler chickens was
variable across the sites, ranging from 8.7 – 22 per cent.
“VTEC was found in about one quarter of irrigation
water samples in the B.C. and Alberta sites.
“Results from the 2014 FoodNet Canada sampling year
have demonstrated that retail meat products, particularly chicken products,
remain an important source of human enteric pathogens. “Some of this
contamination is likely due to high levels on farm and other points along the
farm to store continuum.
“Fresh-cut fruit does not appear to be an important
source of enteric disease for Canadians, while irrigation water has the
potential to be a source of VTEC in particular.
“Continued monitoring of human cases and potential
sources in the sentinel sites is important to help further understand enteric
disease in Canada and detect emerging trends.
“This information will help protect Canadians and
help to develop future public health policy.”
