Bacteria scandal in chicken meat sold at major discount retail chain

A study conducted by Essere Animali, an organization that cooperates with food companies and industry institutions to improve farm animal welfare and eliminate major causes of suffering, in collaboration with other European organizations, revealed alarming results about the chicken meat sold by a well-known German international discount retailer chain.

Analyzing samples from five European countries, including Italy, pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria were found.  

The results of this study revealed that Listeria monocytogenes, bacterium responsible for listeriosis, a severe foodborne infection, were present in 54%, Salmonella spp., the second most common foodborne zoonosis in the EU, in 46%, Escherichia coli in 75% and enterococci in 50% of the Italian samples.  

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are also a growing concern. In this study, 46% of the samples were contaminated with bacteria that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). ESBLs are enzymes that can break down extended-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotics. Additionally, 33% of the samples contained multi-drug resistant strains resistant to several classes of antibiotics critical for human health.  

The growing presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in chicken meat poses a significant threat to public health. This problem is not isolated; antibiotic resistance is a global crisis, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), causing over 1.2 million deaths annually, with projections reaching a staggering 10 million deaths by 2050. In Italy alone, over 11 000 people succumb to infections from resistant bacteria each year.  

One of the primary drivers of this alarming trend is the overuse of antibiotics in intensive farming practices. Confined to crowded and often unsanitary conditions, animals in these facilities are more susceptible to illness, leading to frequent and often unnecessary antibiotic treatments. Notably, Italy ranks among the highest consumers of antibiotics in European farms, further exacerbating the issue.  

While the discount retailer in Italy maintains a commitment to enhancing animal welfare, their actions haven't yet aligned with the European Chicken Commitment (ECC) standards embraced by other Italian companies, demonstrating the ECC's practicality.  

Moreover, the frequent contamination of chicken meat with pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a significant risk to human health. To combat antibiotic resistance and protect consumer health, it is essential that all the companies in the sector improve farming standards and reduce the use of antibiotics.  

 

Source:

Essere Animali