Stamp of guarantee ensures safe eating
Dimitris Leivaditis, head of the National Interdisciplinary Organization for Poultry set up a week ago, explained how to tell if a chicken is from an approved poultry farm. What are «guaranteed» chickens? These are those that are produced by approved poultry farms. That means that they are bred in enclosed areas that prevent any contact with migratory birds. These farms have expert staff on the spot on a permanent basis, all required hygiene measures are observed and there are also specific inspection and certification procedures, including inspection by a state veterinarian before transfer to an abattoir, slaughtering at approved sites under the supervision of a state veterinarian and certification by a state veterinarian that the chicken is safe for consumption before transfer to market. How can consumers tell if the chicken has been inspected by the appropriate authority? The chicken must bear an oval stamp showing the code number of the abattoir marked «Official Veterinary Inspection.» The stamp is on the plastic label or on the wrapping in the case of packaged meat. According to existing legislation, that statement that it is «healthy» includes the assurance that it is not infected with bird flu.
