EU citizens eating less poultry, avian flu survey finds

By Ahmed ElAmin


10/07/2006 - About 48 per cent of those who reduced their consumption, or nine per cent of those surveyed, said they were aware of a potential risk.

As they were unable to measure it, they preferred to adopt a cautious attitude, the survey found.

About 15 per cent of this group, or three per cent of all EU25 citizens, were convinced that the risk of eating poultry meat was real.

On the other hand, 28 per cent, or five per cent of the total, believed there was no real risk involved in eating poultry meat, even though they decided to eat less.

Results show that more than three quarters of the group, representing 14 per cent of the total, perceived this change as temporary.

A total of 13 per cent, or three per cent of those living in all of the EU 25 countries, declared they had reduced their consumption of poultry meat forever.

Consumption of poultry meat has dropped by more than half in some EU states, with 300,000 tonnes and more in storage across the bloc, according to previous EU estimates. Import measures have also restricted the sources processors can use for their supplies of poultry meat.

The survey also found that EU citizens “are well informed about avian influenza and have confidence in the actions of EU and national authorities to tackle it”.

However the European Commission survey found “significant gaps” in the public's knowledge remain about the risks.

The survey, conducted in March and April with 25,000 people, found that between 70 per cent to 80 per cent of respondents correctly identified specific surveillance, control and eradication measures taken to prevent and contain avian flu outbreaks.

A total of 70 per cent of respondents agree that EU public authorities are guided in their actions by genuine concern about the health of European citizens.

However, the survey reveals that a significant percentage of Europeans remain unsure about certain basic facts about avian flu. For example, 28 per cent do not know that avian flu cannot be transmitted through properly cooked eggs and poultry meat, according to figures released on 7 July.

About 74 per cent of respondents displayed a very good awareness that if humans touch infected birds they can be infected.

About 77 per cent displayed a “very good awareness” of the requirement to confine poultry indoors in risk areas. About 78 per cent were aware of import restrictions from third countries affected by avian flu.

However 18 per cent of respondents think that it is not possible to catch avian influenza by touching contaminated birds and 11 per cent are not aware that vaccination against seasonal influenza is not effective against avian influenza.

About 28 per cent declare that avian flu can be transmitted through cooked poultry and 21 per cent think that avian flu can be present in an egg or its shell after cooking. A total of 29 per cent declare it is not safe to eat the meat of a chicken vaccinated against avian influenza.

Outbreaks of the disease have occurred in domestic poultry in France, Sweden, Germany and Denmark. Cases of avian influenza H5N1 have occurred in wild birds in fourteen member states of the EU to date: Spain, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France, Slovakia, Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Czech Republic and UK.

The Eurobarometer survey on avian flu is published at http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/in dex_en.htm.