Salmonella outbreak leads to mass culling of chickens in Finland

A processing facility in Honkajoki has handled a significant number of chickens culled due to salmonella contamination at a contract farm supplying Munax Oy in Laitila, according to a report by Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The workload is the second-largest related to animal diseases in recent years, surpassed only by the 2023 avian influenza outbreak, said Janne Lukkarinen, CEO of Honkajoki Oy. He declined to specify exact numbers due to contractual obligations.

The culled chickens are sterilised at high temperatures and under pressure, rendering the material safe for use as raw material in the fertiliser industry. Honkajoki Oy processes a large portion of Finland’s animal byproducts, employing nearly 80 people at its main site in North Satakunta.

Salmonella, a bacterial infection causing severe gastrointestinal and systemic illness, is rare in Finland. Earlier this year, an outbreak linked to undercooked sprouts resulted in two deaths. The current case involves multiple chicken coops at a single farm, with animals transported to Honkajoki in several batches alongside regular daily shipments from slaughterhouses, pushing the plant near maximum capacity.

Yle was unable to reach Munax Oy CEO Matti Nyfors for comment on the exact number of chickens culled.