FSSAI urges People to stay calm and not eat under-cooked Poultry Meat and Eggs

In view of the budding bird flu warning, the food regulator of India, FSSAI advised buyers not to eat partially boiled eggs and under-cooked chicken and ensure proper preparation of meat products as a detailed list of guidelines came out. 

Likewise the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India have also requested the purchasers and the associated agencies to not refrigerate and ensure that both the meat as well as eggs are maintained properly and cooked for good use as illustrated in the guidance archive. 

Episode of bird flu also known as avian influenza has been affirmed in 'poultry birds' in 6 states namely, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Punjab. In India, bird flu is circulated for the most part by transient birds coming into the country during cold weather months between September and March. 

In an articulation, the FSSAI said it has given the direction document named 'Safe handling, processing and consumption of poultry meat and eggs during bird flu outbreak' recommending safety measures to be taken at retail stores, by customers and those handling or preparing poultry meat. 

As per the controller, bird flu is a contamination brought about by avian influenza viruses. These seasonal infections happen normally among the feathered creatures. Wild birds all over the world ferry the infections in their digestive tracts, however do not become ill from them. In any case, bird flu is infectious among the birds and can make some birds, such as chicken and ducks, extremely debilitated and slaughter them. 

Most strains of avian flu infection are essentially found in the respiratory and gastrointestinal lots of contaminated birds, and not in the meat. In any case, exceptionally pathogenic infections, for example, the H5N1 strain, spread to all parts of a tainted bird, including meat.  

Profoundly pathogenic avian flu infection can be found inside and on the outside of eggs laid by infected creatures. Albeit infected birds will typically quit delivering eggs, eggs laid in the beginning stage of the illness could contain infections in the egg-white as well as yolk just as on the outside of the shell. 

FSSAI said, “Legitimate cooking inactivates the infection present inside the meat and eggs. Poultry meat and eggs from regions with bird flu infection in poultry ought not be devoured raw or under-cooked. Proposing major "rules and regulations", the FSSAI prompted shoppers not to eat half bubbled eggs and half-cooked chicken and furthermore not keep raw meat in open just as not to have direct contact with raw meat. 

It likewise said that individuals must not have direct contact with birds in the contaminated territories, try not to contact dead birds with uncovered hands and use cover as well as gloves while taking care of raw chicken. Further, the controller prompted buyers not to buy eggs and poultry meat sourced from contaminated regions and try not to go to open business markets that sell poultry in tainted territories.  

The FSSAI requested the retail shops to not bring in any living or dead poultry birds from the avian flu infected zones and furthermore not permit it to go into the food chain. Individuals taking care of raw meat should wear gloves, covers and wash their hands appropriately with water and cleanser, particularly when taking care of the raw meat and eggs. Further, contact ought to be evaded with bird droppings, FSSAI added. 

According to the guidelines, every surface and other appliances that might have been touched by the raw poultry meat ought to be washed and thoroughly sterilized. Clean and disinfect the blades and cutting sheets between cutting two birds, it stated, that all the waste created from the retail poultry shop should be appropriately arranged.  

While taking care of and cooking poultry meat, the FSSAI recommended not to wash the chicken in running water as it might cause water sprinkling and spread of drops polluting the environment. It likewise said that individuals should utilize gloves and veils during the taking care of and cooking of poultry items. Subsequent to taking care of poultry meat, wash hands and other uncovered parts with cleanser and water. 

Try not to utilize the equivalent cutting board or the very blade that is utilized for chopping raw meat for some other food component prior to cleaning it or completely washing it with a cleanser, it added. The controller likewise referenced that the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed it is secured to eat poultry meat and eggs and there is no epidemiological information to recommend the sickness can be sent to people through prepared food. 

“After the jolt of COVID and unfounded scare last year when price crash then was triggered by unsubstantiated rumours about poultry products, especially chicken meat, posing the risk of Covid-19, sales and businesses has again nosedived, this time over Avian Influenza. The country's poultry industry is worth nearly INR 1.25 lakh crore, owing to the festive season and normalcy coming back to lives gradually, the sales were picking up, but there is a repeat collapse. Since birds in poultry farms are generally isolated, chances of their catching the virus from foreign avian species are extremely low. They adhere to scientific vaccination schedules and feeding regimens, are at far less risk. People should not be unnecessarily worried, additionally, the methods of eating chicken and eggs in India do not raise the question of transmitting bird flu to human species. An estimated 1.3 crore live broiler birds and 20 crore eggs on average are sold daily in India, and these numbers can rise to 1.5 crore and 28-29 crore during winter. The bird flu scare, however, has led to consumption dropping by 30-40 per cent in the last 4-5 days. Rate of ready bird is down by approximately 40 percent thus triggering a reduction in feed demand by 20 percent ” - Amit Saraogi, Managing Director, Anmol Feeds.