INTRODUCTION
In beef cattle, it has been demonstrated that Tasco^® can significantly reduce shedding of E. coli O157:H7. A preliminary research trial was carried out by the USDA to determine if the Food Safety effects of Tasco^® might possibly extend to other species as well. In poultry, Salmonella and Campylobacter are important microbiological food safety risks. This trial was carried out to determine if Tasco^® has potential to reduce the exposure to these two organisms in poultry. Day old chicks were inoculated with either live Salmonella or Campylobacter cultures and then fed Tasco^® at 2% of their diet for 10 days. 

RESULTS
When fecal samples were analyzed for Salmonella microorganisms, it was determined that animals that received Tasco^® had approximately one half log reduction in organisms shed. In those animals receiving the Tasco^® supplement, fecal concentrations of Campylobacter were also significantly reduced by about one log unit.



CONCLUSION
From this preliminary study it appears that Tasco^® has potential to reduce populations of two important food safety microorganisms, Salmonella and Campylobacter. Further work is required to confirm these observations and to determine optimal dosages and administration patterns required to obtain reliable responses. Although this study was conducted with one-day-old chicks, there is potential for application of Tasco^® to other classes of poultry such as layers, broilers and during other stages of production. Tasco^® has the potential to significantly reduce the microbiological food safety risk in poultry.