Abstract
The objective of this study was to document and understand the perceptions and opinions of small-scale poultry producers who market directly to consumers about microbial food safety risks in the poultry supply chain. Between January and November 2014, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a convenience sample of 16 owner-operators of Maryland direct-market commercial poultry farms. Three overarching thematic categories emerged from these interviews that describe: 1) characteristics of Maryland direct-market poultry production and processing; 2) microbial food safety risk awareness and risk management in small-scale poultry production, slaughter and processing; and 3) motivations for prioritizing food safety in the statewide direct-market poultry supply chain. Key informants provided valuable insights on many topics relevant to evaluating microbial food safety in the Maryland direct-market poultry supply chain, including: direct-market poultry production and processing practices and models, perspectives on issues related to food safety risk management, perspectives on direct-market agriculture economics and marketing strategies, and ideas for how to enhance food safety at the direct-market level of the Maryland poultry supply chain. The findings have policy implications and provide insights into food safety in small-scale commercial poultry production, processing, distribution and retail. In addition, the findings will inform future food safety research on the small-scale US poultry supply chain.
Highlights
Direct-to-consumer agriculture in the US food system and MarylandDirect-to-consumer, or direct-market, agriculture describes the alternative system of agricultural production that markets local food products through direct sales at on-farm retail stands, PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0158412 June 24, 2016Qualitative Descriptions of Food Safety Risks in Direct-Market Maryland Poultry funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
Three overarching thematic categories emerged from these interviews that describe: 1) characteristics of Maryland direct-market poultry production and processing; 2) microbial food safety risk awareness and risk management in small-scale poultry production, slaughter and processing; and 3) motivations for prioritizing food safety in the statewide direct-market poultry supply chain
We organized the results along the following four topics: attributes of the Maryland directmarket poultry supply chain; descriptions and perspectives of on-farm commercial poultry slaughter and processing; awareness and perceptions of food safety and risks related to microbial contamination in small-scale poultry production and slaughter; and motivations for maintaining food safety and quality control among direct-market poultry retailers
Summary
Direct-to-consumer agriculture in the US food system and MarylandDirect-to-consumer, or direct-market, agriculture describes the alternative system of agricultural production that markets local food products through direct sales at on-farm retail stands, PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0158412 June 24, 2016Qualitative Descriptions of Food Safety Risks in Direct-Market Maryland Poultry funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Direct-to-consumer agriculture in the US food system and Maryland. Direct-to-consumer, or direct-market, agriculture describes the alternative system of agricultural production that markets local food products through direct sales at on-farm retail stands, PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0158412. Qualitative Descriptions of Food Safety Risks in Direct-Market Maryland Poultry funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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