Ottawa Puts Pressure On Eu Over Steam-treated Chicken

摘要

After the repeated requests of the United States with regard to chlorine-bleached chicken, another global poultry producer, Canada, is increasing pressure to obtain acknowledgement from the European Union of a decontamination process for poultry, which involves the use of steam at the end of the production line. A declaration in favour of this technique has been submitted by the European Commission to the veterinary experts of the twenty-seven member states.rnThis text could satisfy Ottawa which, since autumn 2008, has been urgently-asking for a sign from the Union in this direction.rnThe draft declaration drawn up by the Commission indicates that the use of steam to remove the surface contamination on poultry carcasses may be authorised, on condition that the water used is drinkable; that exposure to steam does not result in the irreversible discolouration of the meat - in other words, the start of cooking; and that the criteria set by the EU texts on the production of fresh meat are respected.