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As the world marks Antibiotic Awareness Week, global attention once again turns to one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Driven largely by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, AMR threatens not only modern medicine but also the safety and integrity of global food systems.

In Sri Lanka, where chicken is the most widely consumed source of animal protein, the question becomes critically important:

How safe is the food on our tables?



Amid this national and global conversation, Pussalla Meat Producers (Pvt) Ltd stands apart as the clear industry benchmark setting standards rooted not in marketing claims, but in science, responsibility, and total transparency. For over a decade, Pussalla has consistently demonstrated that food safety is not a slogan, but a discipline practiced across every stage of production.

How Antimicrobial Residues Enter the Food Chain

Antimicrobial residues can enter poultry meat when birds are treated with antibiotics and the drugs are not fully eliminated from the body before slaughter. These substances may be introduced through feed, drinking water, or injections, circulating within the bird and remaining in muscle or organ tissues if:

• Withdrawal periods are ignored
• Medicated feed contaminates production lines
• Cross-contamination occurs through shared equipment

Such residues directly contribute to antimicrobial resistance, reducing the effectiveness of life saving medicines in humans and creating long term risks to public health. Against this backdrop, the demand for trustworthy, residue free food has never been greater.

Sri Lanka’s Only Poultry Company With 100% Own Farming and Total Production Control

Pussalla is Sri Lanka’s only truly fully vertically integrated poultry company, operating a 100% own sourcing model with complete control over the entire poultry value chain.

Every broiler bird processed by Pussalla is sourced exclusively from Pussalla owned farms, managed by trained and qualified staff operating under strict internal quality, animal welfare, and food safety protocols. This closed-loop, farm-to-consumer system ensures total traceability and eliminates external risks commonly associated with outsourced or contract farming models.

From:

• Grandparent stock (in partnership with Aviagen)
• Breeder farms and hatcheries
• Feed mills
• Broiler farms
• Processing and further-processing facilities
• Distribution networks
• Over 130 company-owned retail outlets

Pussalla maintains 100% ownership and control, with no outsourcing at any stage. This complete independence removes the primary pathways through which antimicrobial residues, contaminated feed, or unethical practices can enter poultry supply chains elsewhere.

A Strict No Antibiotic Policy Backed by Science, Not Slogans

Pussalla’s commitment to antimicrobial-free poultry is supported by a verifiable, science driven operational system.

• No antibiotics are administered at any stage of bird rearing
• Bird health is protected through a comprehensive vaccination program and preventive health management
• All programs are overseen by qualified veterinarians
• Disease prevention is prioritized over treatment

Feed is produced exclusively in Pussalla’s own feed mills, eliminating the risk of medicated or contaminated feed a major vulnerability in non-integrated operations.

Although antibiotics are not used in routine operations, Pussalla maintains strict veterinary oversight and withdrawal period discipline to prevent any secondary or accidental introduction of veterinary drugs.

As a result, Pussalla is uniquely positioned to guarantee that its poultry is free from:

• Antimicrobial residues
• Growth promoters
• Hormones
• Heavy metals
• Pesticide contamination

The Strongest Testing and Verification Framework in the Poultry Sector

Pussalla operates one of the most rigorous testing and verification systems in Sri Lanka’s poultry industry.

Routine antimicrobial residue testing is conducted at multiple critical points, including:

• Pre-harvest farm sampling
• Processing plant carcass and organ testing
• Random live-bird sampling
• Independent verification through the Government Veterinary Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Peradeniya

Further strengthening these controls, Pussalla operates Sri Lanka’s first and only ISO 17025:2017 accredited microbiology laboratory within the poultry sector a global benchmark for laboratory competence and reliability.

The company’s commitment to world class standards is further validated through internationally recognized certifications, including:

• FSSC 22000 (GFSI: recognized food safety management system)
• ISO 22000: Food Safety Management
• ISO 9001: Quality Management
• ISO 14001: Environmental Management

Together, these certifications demonstrate the robustness, discipline, and credibility of Pussalla’s entire operational framework.

Leadership Commitment to National Benchmarks

Commenting on Pussalla’s philosophy, Managing Director Mr. Dilshan J. Wewita emphasized that food safety particularly freedom from contamination or residual substances is a core corporate responsibility, upheld from leadership to every point in the value chain. He further stated that Pussalla has never focused on imitating competitors. Instead, the company remains committed to setting national benchmarks, driven by scientific processes, disciplined systems, and an unwavering focus on quality and consumer trust.

The Importance of Safe Poultry for National Nutrition

Chicken plays a vital role in Sri Lanka’s nutrition landscape. It provides:

• High-quality complete protein
• Essential amino acids
• B-vitamins
• Iron, zinc, and selenium

It is affordable, accessible, and central to daily household diets. Ensuring poultry is safe, residue-free, and suitable for regular consumption is therefore not just a business obligation it is a matter of national public health and food security.

A Message for Antibiotic Awareness Week

As Sri Lanka joins the global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance, Pussalla delivers a clear and confident message: Safe food free from contamination or antimicrobial residues is not achieved through marketing it is achieved through responsibility, science, and total control. Through Sri Lanka’s only 100% own farm, fully integrated poultry system, Pussalla offers a level of assurance that no other producer can match. In an era where consumers demand transparency, accountability, and trust, Pussalla continues to lead protecting public health, strengthening national food security, and setting the gold standard for antimicrobial-free poultry in Sri Lanka. This Antibiotic Awareness Week, Sri Lanka can take pride in knowing that the country’s highest benchmark for safe poultry is already being set at home by Pussalla.