Different taste

The results of a questionnaire survey on ‘Substitution of Supply of Live Poultry with Frozen Poultry’ were published by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) at a press conference yesterday. The study was conducted by the research team of Macao Polytechnic Institute (IPM) with an aim to understand the overall acceptance of local residents towards the new policy. However, no exact date has been confirmed for the implementation of a new policy to eliminate live poultry, Albino de Campos Pereira, Head of the Department of Food and Animal Inspection and Control of IACM revealed during a press conference yesterday. Different tastes Most local residents do not object to eating frozen poultry when eating out. In fact, food safety and hygienic environments are the main considerations when buying poultry meat, according to the results of the survey. The survey was done in November and December last year. A total of 1,026 local residents and 187 local eateries were interviewed. About 80 per cent of the interviewees had no preference as to what kind of poultry was used in the local eateries, and 70 per cent of the interviewed eateries said they used frozen poultry. In addition, ‘food safety and hygiene ’and a ‘comfortable and hygienic environment for purchase’ were the main factors for consideration when purchasing poultry meat local residents stated, accounting for 80 per cent and 70 per cent of responses respectively. Response to new policy Regarding the implementation of the new policy in the future, most residents (57 per cent) said they did not oppose the idea, and 24 per cent of them agreed with the policy, although a majority of local residents said they do have a habit of eating live poultry. Sixty-seven per cent of the interviewees stated that they ate freshly slaughtered poultry frequently, with chicken being the most popular choice. IACM concluded that the interviewed residents who did not oppose the implementation of the new policy in the future, accounted for the majority, after taking eating preferences and buying habits into consideration. Low alert The awareness of the risk of transmitting avian influenza through live poultry is still low among residents. According to the survey, about half of the interviewees gave wrong answers to the knowledge questions relating to the spread of the virus through live poultry. Furthermore, the survey shows that interviewees who had a higher level of understanding of the risks were in favor of the implementation of the new policy in the future, with 43 per cent of them agreeing and only 33 per cent of them opposed to the policy. Ms. Lek Hou Leong, Public Health Physician of the Health Bureau advised the government to reinforce education and the promotion of the new policy in the community, as avian influenza can cause illness and fatalities in humans, as well as economic losses. Raise awareness The most effective way to prevent humans from avian flu is to ‘separate’ poultry from humans in order to reduce the possibility of an outbreak and minimize the threat to local residents in the future, Ms. Leong explained during the press conference. IACM says it will start carrying out work to strengthen awareness of avian influenza and promotion of frozen poultry products, increasing frozen poultry stalls in markets and consulting with the industry closely in regards to the new policy, especially in relation to the impact on the current stall owners selling live poultry in the markets. About 8000 live poultry are imported to Macau each day. 7,316 tonnes of frozen poultry was imported to Macau in 2015; on average, 610 tonnes was imported each month, according to Albino.