Effectiveness of interventions taken by UK slaughterhouses and cutting plants in response to unsatisfactory process hygiene criteria (PHC) results

FSA would like to commission a study to assess the effectiveness of interventions typically carried out by red meat and poultry slaughterhouses and cutting/processing plants within England, Wales and Northern Ireland following unsatisfactory PHC findings. The evidence generated will be used to inform strategic risk assessments on the relative risk to consumers of meat from Size 5 slaughterhouses and cutting plants that processes equal or less than 2 metric tonnes of meat per week which are currently exempt from sampling, when compared to those slaughterhouses and cutting plants which do currently sample, and support the FSA in improving regulatory compliance. In addition, the published results of this survey may be used by FBOs to support decision-making on interventions following unsatisfactory PHC findings.

The objective of the microbiological food safety research themes is to provide robust information on the presence, growth, survival and elimination of pathogenic microorganisms throughout the food chain; the extent, distribution, causes, risks and cost of foodborne disease will also be considered where appropriate.

Phase 1. Design and carry out interviews of slaughterhouse and cutting plant stakeholders to determine which interventions are carried out by meat processing establishments in response to unsatisfactory PHC results.

Phase 2. A critical literature review of the effectiveness of interventions identified in Phase 1 in correcting unsatisfactory PHC results.

The final output of the project will be a technical report consisting of anonymised findings from the survey of slaughterhouse and cutting plant stakeholders (Phase 1) and the critical review of efficacy for each identified intervention (Phase 2).