Food safety a worldwide challenge for the US poultry industry?
Ensuring the safety of its products is a key priority for the U.S. food industry,
but can it maintain that in the face of increasing globalization?
©sanderclaes I Dreamstime.com
In 1963 global consumption of poultry meat was 3kg per head; 40 years later it had risen nearly four-fold to 11kg. Poultry continues to be the fastest growing
meat sector worldwide, and it’s a trend that is almost
certain to continue in the face of consumer demand from
emerging markets, such as Russia, China and Mexico.
This sounds like a golden opportunity for U.S.
producers who already account for 19% of global
production and 36% of global exports. However, Dr.
Mark LaVorgna, Director of Global Technical Services
for Pfizer Animal Health Global Poultry, sounds a note
of caution:
“When production in any industry is stepped up to
meet increasing demand, two factors inevitably come
under pressure: one is quality and the other is safety.
If either of these begins to slip, then it’s a recipe for
disaster.
