Effect of probiotics on Campylobacter colonisation within the broiler gut

Buyer
Food Standards Agency
Value
£500,000
Closes
30 November 2026
Where
York, Yorkshire and the Humber
Type
Open tender

In plain English

The Food Standards Agency wants a research team to run a field trial on working UK chicken farms to test whether commercially available probiotics (feed or water additives that support gut bacteria) can reduce or delay Campylobacter, the most common bacterial cause of food poisoning in the UK. The study will also check whether any effect carries through to fewer contaminated carcasses at the processing plant, and whether the additives affect bird health, mortality, growth and feed efficiency.

What the buyer wants

• Design and run a multi-phase field trial in commercial intensive broiler houses, with break points where the FSA can review results and decide whether to continue or stop. • Measure Campylobacter colonisation in flocks and contamination on carcasses at processing, and report the size of any log reduction achieved. • Record welfare and production data (mortality, growth rate, feed conversion, flock health) and deliver a final report with clear, evidence-based conclusions.

Likely requirements

Our reading of the notice. Always check the tender documents.

Most small businesses would be disqualified because the contract needs a research team with peer-reviewed poultry microbiology expertise, laboratory accreditation, access to commercial farms and processing plants, and the capacity to manage a multi-year, phased trial.

How to bid

This is an open tender: any eligible business can respond directly to the buyer by the deadline, with no framework membership needed.

How to write a tender response

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