Analysis of the baseline survey on the prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler batches and of Campylobacter and Salmonella on broiler carcasses, in the EU, 2008 - Part B: Analysis of factors associated with Salmonella contamination of broiler carcasses

A European Union-wide baseline survey on Campylobacter in broiler batches and on Campylobacter and Salmonella on broiler carcasses was carried out in 2008. In the Salmonella sub-survey a total of 10,035 broiler batches were sampled from 561 slaughterhouses in 26 European Union Member States and two countries not belonging to the European Union. From each randomly selected batch one carcass was collected after chilling and the neck skin together with the breast skin was examined for the presence of Salmonella. Multivariable regression analysis showed that the risk for Salmonella-contaminated carcasses increased with the slaughter capacity of the slaughterhouse and with processing of the carcass later during the day. The risk for contamination of carcasses with Salmonella varied significantly between countries and between slaughterhouses within a country, even when other associated factors were accounted for. The Salmonella serovar distribution varied among Member States, many of them having a specific distribution pattern of their own and no specific serovar was predominant in all countries in the survey. The most commonly reported serovars were S. Infantis, S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium. Many of the reported serovars seem to have become well-established in broiler production.