Avian flu

Updated - 03/08/2006

In response to concerns regarding avian flu, or “bird flu,” Sodexho has taken a number of actions to reassure customers and communicate with our employees, in line with the recommendations of international public health authorities. While scientific experts are unified regarding the absence of risk of contamination through food ingestion, Sodexho, as world leader in the provision of food and management services, recognizes the need to respond to public concerns, to take appropriate precautions and to continue to closely monitor all developments in liaison with public health authorities.  Sodexho remains attentive and responsive to any concerns expressed by our clients and works closely at each site to ensure that local needs or concerns are addressed.  A special global monitoring team closely follows all developments associated with this issue and communicates regularly with our operating teams around the world.  

Sodexho's position

• With regard to food consumption, international public health authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the scientific community are unified on the absence of risk of contamination by ingestion.
• As the world leader in food services, Sodexho is particularly sensitive regarding potential health risks and has put in place a special monitoring team to track developments, maintain close contact with governmental authorities and communicate with our teams and customers worldwide regarding any new evolution of the situation.
• Sodexho supports the position of public health authorities of international organizations, such as the WHO, and of numerous countries in adopting a responsible, fact-based approach toward the situation and not contributing to unnecessary anxiety regarding food safety or health concerns.
• We are extremely attentive to the expectations or our clients and customers.
  We also want our employees to feel safe in their work environment.  Should the perceived risks become a factor of stress for our customers, or a source of worry for our employees, we will take all necessary measures to ensure that meal time remains a moment of well-being, relaxation and enjoyment.
• Sodexho has issued rules and recommendations that are applicable worldwide in all countries where Sodexho is present.  The measures taken by Sodexho, particularly concerning food purchasing and preparation, are intended as reassurance for our customers and our employees wherever they are located around the world

Regarding customers

• As the leading provider of food services, Sodexho pays close attention to all questions related to food safety and is fully responsive to concerns raised by our customers including when those concerns involve relatively low risk issues.
• For this reason, Sodexho has put in place a series of preventative measures to guarantee that all poultry products are free of avian virus. 
•  Sodexho has put in place a series of additional safeguards to our already rigorous supply, preparation and cooking processes in order to provide the optimum level of protection and as further reassurance to our customers. 
• In countries reporting cases of avian bird flu, in addition to health safety measures already taken by local authorities (such as destruction of animals, vaccination campaigns), Sodexho has reinforced its supplier selection and control procedures at all stages of production and processing. Additionally, each delivery of poultry products is strictly controlled and must be accompanied by official confirmation that the products are in full compliance with protective measures imposed by health safety authorities. These purchasing restrictions are accompanied by a reinforcement of our supplier selection procedures and increased vigilance regarding monitoring of our supply chain. We also are giving preference to purchases of poultry raised in closed and covered environments.
• For any procurement from another country, Sodexho's purchasing manager in the exporting country must certify that the necessary supplier selection and control procedures are in place.
• An additional safeguard that Sodexho implemented last year was the suspension from its menus of any recipe containing raw eggs or poultry that is not cooked at least five minutes at temperatures of at least 60° centigrade, preparation steps that guarantee destruction of any virus present.  This suspension continues in force.

Regarding employees

• Sodexho has reinforced our internal controls and operating procedures in order to limit employees from being exposed to the avian virus. Additionally, in all countries where cases of avian bird flu have been detected, the company is limiting to the minimum the number of employees involved in on-site activities at poultry raising facilities. Only expert purchasers, who are knowledgeable regarding necessary personal protective measures, are authorized to visit poultry farms or processing units.
• For all other countries, Sodexho has put in place measures limiting employee travel to countries where human cases of avian bird flu have been detected to situations in which travel is necessary.
• Sodexho has recommended to its employees worldwide to follow closely the medical and sanitary advice of their country's public and scientific authorities.  Coordinators have been identified in all countries to maintain liaison with local authorities and public health experts.   

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Jean-Charles Tréhan
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