Multiple vacuum sealed chickens wash up on Devon beach
Beaches surrounding the area of Westward Ho! had an unexpected delivery early this morning
Residents have been warned after a number of chickens have washed up on a beach in Westward Ho!
The small town located in north Devon saw five vacuum packed chickens wash up on the surrounding beaches of the area at around 1:40 am.
Devon and Cornwall police said they were notified of the chickens earlier this morning, saying:
"It appeared a crate had fallen off a boat and the Environment Agency had been informed."
A spokesperson for Bideford police said"
"Police have been made aware of quantities of vacuum packed chicken is washing up across Westward Ho! and surrounding beaches.
"Environmental health are aware.
"Please be mindful if walking your dogs and DO NOT take home as will not be fit for consumption
The food standards agency said that vacuum packaging can increase the shelf life of some foods- However, under certain circumstances, a bacterium may grow in the absence of oxygen.
You can read more on their website here
"Vacuum packaging and modified atmosphere packaging can increase the shelf-life of chilled foods by limiting the growth of microorganisms.
"However, under certain circumstances, a bacterium called non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) may grow in the absence of oxygen.
"This bacterium is able to grow and produce a harmful toxin at temperatures of 3°C and above.
"It is important that VP/MAP chilled foods have appropriate controls in place to minimise the risk of this organism growing and producing harmful levels of toxin.
The exclamation mark in "Westward Ho!" is there because the seaside village was named after Charles Kingsley's 1855 novel, "Westward Ho!", which itself included the exclamation mark as part of its title.
The name was intentionally adopted to capitalize on the novel's popularity and attract tourists to the newly developed resort