Chicken food poisoning bug in decline

The levels of food poisoning bug campylobacter in chickens are falling, new figures from Food Standards Agency have revealed - with Marks and Spencer’s chickens least likely to cause illness. The report found that retailers which had significantly lower levels compared to the average among all retailers were M&S, Morrisons and Waitrose at levels ranging from 2.5 per cent to 2.8 per cent, while the group consisting of a number of smaller retailers and butchers had a significantly higher level compared to the average.

Across the market, 6.5 per cent of chickens tested positive for the highest level of contamination.

Dr Jacqui Mcelhiney of Food Standards Scotland said: “The major UK retailers and poultry producers have all made significant improvements.”