A survey of foodborne pathogens in poultry meat in Germany and the incidence of illness has shown that the number of cases of Salmonella poisoning is falling. However, there is no decrease in the number of cases of poisoning from Campylobacter.

The survey by the safety authority – the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) – showed that it is not possible to prevent the contamination of poultry carcasses.

“The results of our report show that we must continue to control zoonoses in poultry production and identify them at slaughter,” said the BfR president.

Making research in agriculture and the agri-food sector a priority, promoting innovation and improving the exchange of knowledge are going to be essential in developing food production to feed a growing global population.

These are the targets of a consultation paper from the European Commission, which looks at how science and innovation can help the EU ensure safe, nutritious, sufficient and sustainable food globally.

The paper is linked to the theme at this year's Universal Exhibition (Expo Milano 2015), which is 'Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life'.

Rob Gous, Emeritus Professor at the University of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa gave the 32nd Gordon Memorial Lecture at the annual meeting of the UK Branch of the World’s Poultry Science Association (WPSA) in the city of Chester this week. In his most interesting lecture, Dr Gous explained the appeal of using a modelling approach in directing poultry research.

And finally, turning to news of bird flu, the disease has spread in the United States to Wisconsin and Iowa and has affected the first commercial chicken flock. There have also been 11 new outbreaks on farms in already-affected states. The disease has also returned to India – in the southern state of Telangana – and to Mexico, while Nigeria and Viet Nam have also reported new outbreaks in poultry in the last week.