According to the signed agreement terms, AbCelex and Carton will jointly research and develop products effective against Campylobacter jejuni. AbCelex's proprietary antibody-based platform technology can be a substantial solution worldwide to help prevent or significantly reduce food-borne illnesses.

"am extremely pleased for this cooperation between AbCelex and Carton where we can contribute to the reduction of C. jejuni infections and other harmful microbes which continue to be pervasive throughout our food supply chain," said Dr Saeid Babaei, Chairman of the Board at AbCelex. "This collaboration will provide AbCelex with an opportunity to strengthen its presence in the food safety market in partnership with one of the world's largest food companies in the rapidly growing and profitable segment."

"I am very excited about the opportunity to join AbCelex research team in investigating innovative technologies to reduce Campylobacter infection in our food supply as consumers, now more than ever, are vigilant when it comes to food safety," said Mr Vincent Carton, Managing Director at Carton Group. "Adding innovative and effective products to our portfolio is an important aspect of our business strategy in ensuring that our birds are raised to the highest food safety and animal care standards. We are firmly behind the wheel in the drive for innovation and growth in our industry."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Campylobacter, primarily C. jejuni, is the third leading cause of death from foodborne infections in the world. In the United States alone, it affects nearly 2.4 million people, causes an estimated 58,000 illnesses and 200 deaths, and costs companies millions of dollars in recall losses in the US each year. A substantial portion of the illnesses and deaths are associated with meat and poultry products.

A recent survey of Canadians conducted by BrandTrust found that food safety now ranks virtually equal to freshness when considering purchasing processed meats - 94 per cent of respondents ranked food freshness as the most influential factor, with 92 per cent also ranking food safety.