Food authorities have issued an urgent alert to Australian consumers about cooked chicken and eggs, allaying concerns about any potential bird flu contamination.
It comes five days after Coles supermarket announced that it was imposing purchase limits on eggs after bird flu was detected at a fifth Victorian poultry farm.
The retail giant has introduced a temporary limit of two egg cartons per customer in all stores, except for customers in Western Australia.
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Now, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has issued a statement to calm fears about bird flu contamination in chicken and egg products.
“Avian influenza (bird flu) is not a food safety concern and it is safe to eat properly handled and cooked chicken meat, eggs and egg products,” it said in a new statement.
“There is no evidence to show the virus can be transmitted to people through properly prepared food.”
FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert went on to say that Australia’s biosecurity and food regulation systems ensure the safety of the food supply.
“Farms affected by bird flu have been quarantined and the movement of animals and products restricted,” Dr Cuthbert said.
“Poultry flocks affected by bird flu are being destroyed as part of the emergency response to contain the disease as it is highly contagious in poultry. This approach is to restrict the spread of the disease between birds, not to manage food safety.
“For animal products to be sold as food, animals must not be a source of food safety concerns. All retail products must meet strict food safety production requirements.
“Together, biosecurity and food regulation measures provide confidence in the safety of the food supply.
“Consumers can be assured poultry and egg products on sale are safe to eat, noting consumers and food businesses should always follow good hygiene practices when handling and preparing food.”
Food Standards Australia said “it is always important to ensure proper storage, handling and preparation of food to reduce food safety risks”.
More than half a million chickens have been euthanised at five egg farms in Victoria’s southwest in an effort to stop the spread of the disease.
Coles is the only major supermarket to impose limits on eggs in the wake of the outbreak. Woolworths and ALDI have no limits in place at present.