Food borne illness makes the headlines from time to time. Even though there are many types of bacteria which can cause food borne illness, salmonella is at the top of the list. Salmonella can be found in raw meat, but it is much more common in poultry, eggs, and other dairy products. In order to reduce the risk in chickens, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new weapon in the fight against salmonella.

Beginning in May of 1998, farmers can start spraying chickens with a product called Preempt. Preempt is a solution containing 29 harmless bacteria. These bacteria can prevent salmonella from growing inside of a chicken. Newly hatched chicks are sprayed with Preempt and the solution is ingested when the chicks pick at their wet feathers. Salmonella cannot survive with the other bacteria and it dies. Researchers have been able to reduce the contamination of salmonella to zero.

The thought of spraying bacteria on chickens to kill bacteria may sound unappealing. The technique of spraying chickens with Preempt is safe. This method of reducing salmonella has been positively received by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Such approval is surprising because, while CSPI is a good organization overall, they do go overboard on some of their views regarding food issues. You may recall that CSPI was the consumer group which previously labeled foods like Italian, Mexican, and theater popcorn as bad. The main reason CSPI looked favorably upon Preempt is that this step starts reducing bacteria at the farm instead of waiting until poultry gets to the processing plant.

Another benefit to using Preempt is the poultry industry wants to move away from using antibiotics to control harmful bacteria. Antibiotics often kill the so called "good" bacteria along with the organisms they were designed to wipe out. There are also some strains of bacteria which are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Finally, there is consumer pressure to reduce the usage of antibiotics in favor of more natural alternatives. Using bacteria to kill bacteria is about as natural as it gets.

Even though the use of Preempt is a big step in the fight against food poisoning, safe food handling practices should not be forgotten. Food contamination can happen anywhere along the way from the farm to your supper table. As always, you must continue to cook all meats and poultry thoroughly to kill any remaining bacteria.

Copyright© 1999-2006 Kevin Kelly, LRD. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.

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