The use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals can lead to increased bacterial resistance. Important information to address this problem can be provided by monitoring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in foodborne pathogens. As part of preliminary activities for the implementation of AMR surveillance in Brazil, a nationwide survey on AMR in Salmonella enterica isolates from poultry meat was conducted. The survey evaluated 146 Salmonella isolates from poultry meat in 2014, and 163 isolates obtained in 2017. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of 13 antimicrobials were determined by broth microdilution, and isolates were assigned to serotypes by automated ribotyping. High resistance rates were found in 2014 and 2017, in particular to nalidixic acid (84/146, 57.5% and 141/163, 86.5%, respectively), ampicillin (82/146, 56.2% and 125/163, 76.7%), cefotaxime (76/146, 52.1% and 124/163, 76.1%), ceftazidime (73/146, 50.0% and 124/163, 76.1%), ciprofloxacin (83/146, 56.9% and 145/163, 89.0%) and tetracycline (88/146, 60.3% and 135/163, 82.8%). There was a significant increase in resistance to these antibiotics in the second survey period. Salmonella ser. Heidelberg and Salmonella ser. Minnesota were the main serotypes expressing resistance to these antimicrobials. Multidrug resistance was found in 50.7% (74/146) of the isolates from 2014, and in 77.3% (126/163) of isolates from 2017 (P < 0.05). None of the isolates was resistant to azithromycin or meropenem. These findings indicate high and increasing rates of resistance among Salmonella from poultry meat in Brazil, mainly associated with Salmonella ser. Heidelberg and Salmonella ser. Minnesota, stressing the importance of continuous monitoring of AMR in the poultry chain.

Food borne transmission of antibiotic resistant strains of Escherichia coli from contaminated food has been recognised as an important hazard for human health in the past few decades and pathogenic strains of E. coli have long been considered as serious zoonotic hazards. Poultry meat is attractive for consumers worldwide, so the measures to preserve the safety of poultry meat are important issues. Tetracyclines are one of the most frequently used antibiotics in poultry farming and are still used in human medicine. The widespread use of tetracyclines in poultry farming may have resulted in the development and transmission of resistance strains from poultry to humans via the food chain. The relationship between the use of tetracyclines and the presence of resistant strains of E. coli in poultry meat, mainly due to the irregular use of antibiotics, is reviewed in this paper. The need for prudent use of antibiotics, particularly those which are used in human medicine is highlighted. Continuous monitoring and reporting on incidents in the future should improve the current regulations.

The meat industry is one of the most competitive international branches and is currently in its mature stage of development. This paper concentrates on the prospects for European meat market trends and on results from primary quantitative research which was carried out using a method of individual personal interviews in a sample of 800 poultry meat consumers, aged between 18 and 65 years and in Slovenia. The aim of this paper is to present trends and projections on production and consumption of poultry meat, regardless of the fluctuations in the previous years, and to enable a better understanding of consumers' attitude and perception towards poultry meat. Taking into account that research has been conducted in the poultry sector in Slovenia generally and on consumer perceptions specifically, the results of this research may be used for planning further marketing activities.

Poultry meat consumption in Kuwait has increased rapidly over the past 15 years. The objective of this report is to examine and explain the development of the Kuwait poultry during this period with a special focus on the reasons for the recent rapid expansion of the broiler breeder industry.

In 2011, 39,396 tonnes of poultry meat were produced in Kuwait with a value of $56.1 million, but this accounted for only 20% of the total poultry meat consumption (97.5 kg/person). The Kuwait poultry industry is economically competitive with imported poultry meat, but expansion is limited because of the availability of suitable land and water resources. Poultry companies therefore increase revenue by producing a higher proportion of higher value products (fresh/chilled meat, further processed chicken products and live bird sales). The industry now provides almost all its requirements for broiler chicken hatching eggs, but production efficiency is reduced in the late summer months when combinations of high temperatures and humidity give extreme climatic conditions. There is a need for research to improve production efficiency and training and education of staff to ensure a continued skill base for the industry.

Meat colour and tenderness are considered as two of the most important quality attributes influencing consumer's purchasing and repurchasing decisions respectively. This review discusses the importance of poultry meat quality with reference to texture/tenderness. The manuscript includes different factors affecting poultry meat texture, methods for improving tenderness, ultra structural changes, and comparison of up-to-date tenderisation methodologies available in the literature are discussed. The tenderising efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of various physical, chemical, enzymatic characteristics and their synergistic effects in poultry meat is narrated. This review provides comprehensive information for poultry processors, retailers and consumers and gives an overall view to researchers.

The poultry industry, with its fast 8-10% growth rate annually, is the second largest industry of Pakistan, however the structural flow of meat products from farmers to consumers is multifaceted. The potential of the meat industry, with its variety of end products, is growing rapidly and serving the wealthier populations of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The meat industry has many emerging constraints for the supply of meat and its products from market to the consumer. Adopting modern poultry farming methods without following the strict hygienic conditions will prove to be a threat in the near future. The traditional supply of all types of meat and related products in the existing market needs strict government monitoring. The structural flow of meat in Pakistan continues in its traditional forms, but nevertheless continues to keep pace with the demands of the Pakistan and Afghanistan. The developing meat industry is facing many emerging problems including diseases, energy crisis and distress sales during disasters, corruption, and government policy. On the whole, the people of Pakistan are conscious about Halal, Healthy and Hygienic (3Hs) meat at a low price. The following paper reviews the current status of poultry meat and its products in this region.

The following review details the development and current status of poultry meat in terms of marketing, purchasing and consumer decisions within the country of Greece. The aim of this paper is to identify Greek consumers’ perceptions of poultry meat. Taking into account that little research has been conducted in the poultry sector in Greece generally and on consumer perceptions specifically, these results will help to provide solutions in strategic marketing.

Supplementing broiler diets with conventional vegetable oils has little effect on the long-chain n-3 PUFA (LC n-3 PUFA) content of the meat. The present study investigated the effect on fatty acid composition and sensory characteristics of chicken meat when broilers were fed oil extracted from soyabeans (SDASOY) that had been genetically engineered to produce C18 : 4n-3 (stearidonic acid (SDA), 240 mg/g oil). Three diets were fed to 120 birds (eight replicate pens of five birds) from 15 d to slaughter (41–50 d). Diets were identical apart from the oil added to them (45 and 50 g/kg as fed in the grower and finisher phases, respectively), which was either SDASOY, near-isogenic soya (CON) or fish oil (FISH). The LC n-3 PUFA content of the meat increased in the order CON, SDASOY and FISH. In breast meat with skin, the SDA concentration was 522, 13 and 37 (sem 14·4) mg/100 g meat for SDASOY, CON and FISH, respectively. Equivalent values for C20 : 5n-3 (EPA) were 53, 13 and 140 (sem 8·4); for C22 : 5n-3 (docosapentaenoic acid (DPA)) 65, 15 and 101 (sem 3·5); for C22 : 6n-3 (DHA) 19, 9 and 181 (sem 4·4). Leg meat (with skin) values for SDA were 861, 23 and 68 (sem 30·1); for EPA 87, 9 and 258 (sem 7·5); for DPA 95, 20 and 165 (sem 5·0); for DHA 29, 10 and 278 (sem 8·4). Aroma, taste and aftertaste of freshly cooked breast meat were not affected. Fishy aromas, tastes and aftertastes were associated with LC n-3 PUFA content of the meat, being most noticeable in the FISH leg meat (both freshly cooked and reheated) and in the reheated SDASOY leg meat.

The development of the global poultry meat market has, in recent years, been marked by rapid, unexpected and complex changes. The poultry meat industry is one of the most competitive international sectors and is currently in its mature stage of development. In order to maintain their competitive position on the market, companies have to constantly prove themselves by supplying innovative products and processes.

This review focuses on recent trends in Slovenia, and the aim is to demonstrate how the present situation in Slovenia fits into the general trends within the European Union.

The article concentrates on the results of the primary quantitative research, which was carried out via individual personal interviews. The sample consisted of 600 Slovenian poultry meat consumers, aged between 18 and 65 years. Special attention was paid to the origin of meat in the consumer's decision-making process. The positive perception of poultry meat and the importance of its origin in the purchase-decision-making process were evident from the survey and knowing meat origin plays a key role in the purchase-decision-making process. The trends in poultry meat consumption, which were determined in our study of the European poultry meat market, were thus confirmed by the quantitative research, which was also carried out in Slovenia.

α-Linolenic acid (ALA; 18 : 3n-3) and stearidonic acid (SDA; 18 : 4n-3) are on the biosynthetic pathway of EPA (20 : 5n-3) and DHA (22 : 6n-3). The n-3 fatty acid in rapeseed oil is ALA while Echium oil contains both ALA and SDA. To determine the comparative efficacy of ALA- and SDA-rich oils in enriching broiler meat with n-3 PUFA, we offered diets supplemented with rapeseed oil (rapeseed group) or Echium oil (Echium group) for 35 d to two groups of chicks (age 21 d). There were no differences in carcass weight (2·20 (sem 0·06) v. 2·23 (sem 0·05) kg), boned, skinless thigh muscle (494 (sem 20·5) v. 507 (sem 16·7) g), boned, skinless breast muscle (553 (sem 13·4) v. 546 (sem 11·6) g) or organ weights (heart, liver and gizzard) between the two groups. The total intramuscular fat (IMF) percentage of thigh (8·0 (sem 0·64) v. 8·1 (sem 0·62) %) and breast muscles (2·3 (sem 0·24) v. 2·0 (sem 0·19) %) were also similar between the groups. In contrast, the concentrations of most of the individual n-3 fatty acids (ALA, SDA, EPA and docosapentaenoic acid) were all higher in the Echium than the rapeseed group (P < 0·05). However, differences in DHA concentrations were significant in breast but not thigh muscle IMF. The total n-3 yields/100 g serve thigh muscle were 265 and 676 mg for the rapeseed and Echium groups, respectively (P < 0·0001). The corresponding values for equivalent breast muscles were 70 and 137 mg, respectively (P < 0·01). We conclude that Echium oil is a better lipid supplement than rapeseed oil in changing the concentration and yield of n-3 fatty acids, except DHA, in broiler meat.

Fat content in poultry meat is relatively low (2.8 g/100 g breast and 13 g/100 g thigh) and with a positive unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio, from a human health point of view. It is well established that we can modify lipid fraction through dietary strategies in order to improve nutritive value. When the dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) level increases, the PUFA content in the chicken tissues also increases. But this enrichment in PUFA, especially in omega-3, leads to a higher number of double bonds in the meat and this provokes different consequences. The use of dietary PUFA fat causes a decrease in the body fat deposition in broilers. Furthermore, an increase in the degree of PUFA in meat enhances the development of organoleptic problems and increases the susceptibility to oxidation. Since antioxidants, especially vitamin E, protect PUFA from oxidation damage, its inclusion in chicken diets must be assured. Alpha-Tocopherol (alpha-Toc) content in poultry meat increases linearly as the dietary alpha-Toc supplementation increases, but it is affected by the PUFA content. As the dietary PUFA level increases, the alpha-Toc content of chicken meat decreases. To achieve the same tissue alpha-Toc concentration, the vitamin E requirements increase by 2.5 and 3.7 mg per each g of dietary PUFA. The potential healthy beneficial effect of PUFA enriched meat will be limited if the antioxidant content, such as vitamin E, which prevents oxidation, is not assured. The dietary supplementation with alpha-Toc and PUFA should be adjusted depending on our aims: nutrient enrichment and/or lipid oxidation minimization.

Microbiological risk assessment (MRA) is now a key feature in the world-wide management of food safety risks, including those associated with poultry meat. This paper presents a review of MRA from the perspective of poultry meat. The methodology is outlined and key issues such as uncertainty, model complexity and model validation are highlighted. To demonstrate the use of the tool, a MRA for campylobacter infection within Great Britain (GB) is summarised and example results are presented. Presentation of the model demonstrates the way in which MRAs can be usedto investigate the effects of risk mitigation strategies and identify data gaps. It is anticipated that this presentation, together with the overview of the general methodological issues, will promote an increasing understanding of the technique amongst those that have a concern in the control of campylobacter in poultry, for example, producers, microbiologists and risk managers.

Consumer demand for food products of superior health quality has renewed interest in modifying the lipid composition of poultry meat and eggs. While work involving the reduction of the cholesterol content of poultry products has met with little success, dietary fatty acid modification has proved to be a viable method of adding value to poultry products for the health conscious consumer. Because of the association with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease, recent dietary fat studies have centred on the manipulation of specific fatty acids, i.e. 20-carbon omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid 20:5n3, decosahexaenoic acid 22:6n3) found in marine sources. Seasonal availability, affordability and consumer preference often limit fish consumption, thereby excluding the primary source of 20-carbon omega-3 fatty acids. Enrichment of poultry meat and eggs with these fatty acids might provide an excellent alternative source. The omega-3 fatty acid content of both poultry meat and eggs can be readily increased by the inclusion of marine oils/meals in the diet. However, off-flavours associated with carcass and egg samples enriched in this way have prompted investigations into the use of terrestrial sources of omega-3 fatty acids. While effective in enriching meat and egg products with linoleic acid (18:3n3), plant sources result in only minor changes in the content of 20-carbon omega-3 fatty acids. Various methods of oil refinement and extraction, as well as alterations in production practices and the use of dietary antioxidants have been examined as ways to improve flavour quality and storage stability of omega-3 fatty acid enriched products. Continued investigation in the areas of sensory evaluation and product stability are needed if significant improvements in the health quality of foods available to the consumer are to be made.

A brief discussion is presented of the indirect effects (particularly through litter condition and leg problems) and the direct effects on carcase composition and quality of variation in protein:energy ratio, nutrient density, type and quality of added fat, fish oils, enzyme addition to the feed, mineral and vitamin levels and the use of certain drugs.

The method elaborated by Working Group 5 involves standard procedures for poultry meat sampling, sample preparation, inoculation of a selective isolation medium, counting of colonies and interpretation of results. These are described, together with full details of media preparation. Widespread adoption of the method in processing plants would help considerably in the establishment of more uniform quality control standards. In turn there could be significant benefits to international trade and to the image of the products of the poultry meat industry among consumers.