Public health issues related to poultry and poultry products

Several factors are influencing the poultry production and health such as strong global competition; changes in social, political and consumer perceptions with regard to food safety, animal welfare and environmental protection. The loss of consumer confidence and trust in the quality and safety of poultry meat and poultry products will remain a continuous major challenge. Many human foodborne infections are linked to poultry. Control and/or elimination of these organisms present a great challenge. The development of antibiotic resistant bacteria will also be a continuous public health hazard. The future concept of animal health will cover not only the absence of disease in birds, but also the relationship between the health of animals and their welfare. It will also take into account social, economic and ethical considerations, as well as support the achievement of a high level of environmental protection. In general, consumer expectations for high quality products will strongly influence future production methods. This means that farmers, veterinarians, stockholders and all other partners involved in the production chain need to share more responsibilities. The present paper explores these points.