The utmost care is taken at our processing factories and
this picture speaks volumes for British chicken. EVERY bird that goes
through a British factory will have been inspected by a ministry vet.The
critical inspection of the birds and what is allowed to go for human
consumption is a Ministry vets decision.
No outside commercial influence can be brought to bear on their decision.
The vets also inspect the traceability declaration records of the birds that
are being processed.
They check that all declarations have been signed relating to any
medicines used and make sure that none was administered to the birds, prior
to the week of processing. They also check to see that the feed the birds
have eaten prior to processing, will have been free of medication.
British chicken is fed on a wholesome cereal based diet of which up to
sixty percent is wheat. We do not feed any animal by- product by way of meat
and bone meal or ground feathers to our flocks.
UK poultry growers voluntarily stopped using these product immediately
after B.S.E was found in our cattle and meat and bone meal was subsequently
banned for use in animal feeds by the UK government in 1996.
Our government is alone in taking this stance, but we as farmers want to
produce the best for the consumer and believe such actions are right to
take. It may be that the scientist of the future prove a positive link with
diseases and animal by-products. Lets hope they never happens, but if they
do, you will be glad that you are eating British chicken.
Starting on the 1st October 1999 antibiotic growth promoters by some
processors are being being phased out. Again, not because they are
proved harmful, but it is to assure the public that British chicken is the
safest meat in the world to eat.
The British chicken farmer gets really aggravated by the fact that
chicken is being sold in the UK under the pretence that all chicken is the
same. It clearly is NOT.
Fact
:-
There is concern among
industry experts, since there is a growing Aids epidemic in Thailand -
affecting more than 2 million - and workers are not tested before being
given cutting-up jobs.