Developing nudges as an intervention to improve compliance of food handlers to procedures during broiler processing

Evisceration is one of the key steps during processing of broilers at which carcasses may become contaminated with faecal material, a major source of Campylobacter. Faecal leakage typically occurs through damage of intestines when processing equipment is improperly adjusted. It has been shown that the number of carcasses contaminated with faeces varies between slaughterhouses and is associated with the compliance of food handlers with procedures on setting and controlling of the evisceration equipment. Improved compliance with these procedures could thus reduce faecal contamination, but interventions addressing this approach are currently lacking. Nudges, defined amongst other as changes in the presentation of various choice alternatives in such a way that makes the desired choice easier, automatic or default, are frequently used in marketing to guide consumer choices. Such strategies could guide behaviour and choices of food handlers during broiler processing towards handlings that reduce faecal contamination. This study explored the use of nudges as cost-effective interventions to direct behaviour of food handlers (operators and post mortem inspectors) during broiler processing. Nudges were designed specifically for this study with the aim to improve controlling and adjusting of the evisceration equipment as well as to improve treatment of carcasses with visible faecal contamination.