Zuhal Daştan who claimed that there were no Bird Flu viruses found in their integrated plants stated: “It is needless to make up disaster scenarios”

President of Healthy Chicken Meat Information Platform Zuhal Daştan noted that up until now they have not encountered any bird flu virus in a plant where integrated chicken production takes place and he said that disaster scenarios were concocted and an unnecessary panic was created, disregarding the declarations of the World Health Organization and scientists.

Healthy Chicken Meat Information Platform which is established by the prominent firms in the poultry industry and represents some 85% of the sector in Turkey, made an inspection tour to the broiler farms around Silivri area and gave information concerning the bio-security precautions that were taken against bird flu.

According to the Platform President Zuhal Daştan, the highest risk factor is the poultry that is raised in open area under unhygienic condition. He further added that “the risk is minimal in the poultry that is raised under the continuous supervision of expert veterinarian and kept in the farms of closed houses where strict biosecurity is applied. However, the poultry that is raised in open area away from the supervision has to be put in closed houses or to be slaughtered for consumption before the disease reemerged in somewhere else has become necessity.”

Zuhal Daştan who underlined that World Health Organization’s declaration of the transmission of the bird flu to human that is emerged in Turkey and Romania is “very low” further added that “United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) announced that Turkey and Romania has acted rapidly and effectively in order to take the virus under control and due to the precautions taken by these two countries no epidemic like the one in Asia was expected. Nevertheless, considering various examples from the past, we know well that EU is excessively sensitive on agricultural matters. Undoubtedly, this is a matter of human health but EU’s insistent attitude on making up disastrous scenarios without taking note on the declarations made by World Health Organization and United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) brings in mind the question that “Is this a commercial issue at the same time?” .

Daştan continued: “Until today no bird flu case was encountered among any chicken raised in our integrated premises. It is out of question for the virus to infect the meat reaching the consumer because we slaughter the chicken in hygienic plants where no external contamination of disease agents on the meat is possible and transport the meat to the point of sale via vehicles with disinfected refrigeration systems. Furthermore, no virus or microorganism can survive in a properly cooked chicken dish. Labeled chicken meat which is produced under extensive security precautions with high international hygiene standards and in daily inspected healthy environments in our integrated premises and transported to the point of sale under cold chains, can be consumed safely.”

Zuhal Daştan mentioned that the producers are aware of their responsibilities and said:
“It is both a social responsibility and a requisite for their own benefits to take every precaution necessary for the chicken producers to confine the disease wherever it is detected. Every integrated chicken producer took preventive measures by locating their farms in different areas. No one wishes the disease to spread over to others in case it is detected in any of the farms despite all the preventive measures. Sending the infected chicken to slaughter is no different than spreading the disease to the vehicles, the cages, slaughterhouses and the environment. That is why, it is our vital responsibility to confine the disease to where it was found.”