Campylobacter: The most frequent pathogen of bacterial diarrhoeal infections
New BfR leaflet on protection against infections
Campylobacter is found in domestic animals, livestock and the environment around the world. It frequently reaches food during milking or slaughter. Campylobacter is to be found particularly often in raw poultry meat. The pathogen is found far less frequently in raw milk, beef and pork. Poor kitchen hygiene may allow the germ to spread to other foods. To prevent this happening, care should be taken in the kitchen to prevent cross-contamination.
Campylobacter can survive in a food for a certain period of time but cannot multiply. Like most foodborne pathogens, Campylobacter can be killed through heating as well as by boiling, roasting or pasteurising. Furthermore, Campylobacter is sensitive to oxygen, drying, salt and acid. By contrast, the deep-freezing of food cannot completely kill the Campylobacter, merely reduce the number of germs.
Small amounts of Campylobacter can cause intestinal infections in humans who normally develop symptoms like stomach ache and diarrhoea. Rare complications like nervous disorders (Guillain-Barré Syndrome) and inflammations of the joints may also occur.
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