Quantifying Enteropathogen Contamination along Chicken Value Chains in Maputo, Mozambique: A Multidisciplinary and Mixed-Methods Approach to Identifying High Exposure Settings

Summary

This mixed-methods study mapped and quantified enteropathogen contamination across broiler, layer, and indigenous chicken production and marketing chains in Maputo, Mozambique's informal sector. The research identified carcass rinsing and raw meat storage as critical control points with high contamination risk, whilst finding few existing hazard mitigation strategies in informal settings. The authors propose their approach as a model for assessing sanitary risks and exposures in animal value chains in other low- and middle-income country settings.

Regional applicability

This study was conducted in Mozambique's informal poultry sector and may have limited direct applicability to United Kingdom settings, where poultry production and retailing are typically highly regulated with formal food safety systems. However, the mixed-methods value chain mapping approach could inform UK policy discussions on informal or small-scale poultry production, and findings may be relevant to UK-led development and food safety programmes in similar low-resource settings.

Key measures

Prevalence and concentration of enteropathogens (species unspecified in abstract) at different stages of chicken value chains; identification of critical control points; assessment of hazard mitigation strategies in informal sector

Outcomes reported

The study quantified microbial hazards (enteropathogens) along broiler, layer, and indigenous chicken production and marketing value chains, identifying critical control points such as carcass rinsing and raw meat storage where contamination was highest.

Topic tags