EFSA: The use of high expansion foam for stunning and killing poultry
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was requested to perform such assessment regarding high expansion foam using nitrogen for on-farm killing of pigs and poultry. Killing of poultry and pigs using inert gases, i.e. nitrogen and argon, is an approved method but the use of high expansion foam as a vehicle to carry nitrogen and displace atmospheric air in a container and the use of nitrogen jet stream to destroy the foam and release its content to create anoxia are considered a modification of the approved method.
Conclusions: Exposure of poultry to anoxia (< 2% by volume of residual oxygen) created using high expansion foam (expansion ratio 1:> 250) filled with nitrogen provides a level of animal welfare at least equivalent to that ensured by exposure to carbon dioxide (CO2) at high concentration, especially during whole house gassing, as well as by electrocution using electrical water bath. The assessments are limited for poultry to laying hens and broiler chickens of all ages.
