Antibiotic-resistant E. Coli bacteria has been found in one in four chicken samples collected from the UK’s largest supermarkets, according to a recent research commissioned by the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics.
It also found that 24% of 92 chicken samples were from well known supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Asda, Aldi and the Co-op, Daily Mail reported.
Scientists in the past have found out that bugs like E.coli, salmonella and campylobacter have mutated to develop a resistance to the antibiotics which is known as antimicrobial resistance, or AMR.
A Food Standards Agency spokesman has been quoted by the publication as saying: “AMR is a significant threat to public health in the future and consumer safety is a priority for the FSA. Working with others across Government, and with food producers, we aim to reduce the use of antimicrobials in food production animals.
“An important part of that will be work with food manufacturers, assurance schemes and retailers to develop standards for the responsible use of antibiotics in poultry, pig and dairy sectors.”
A total of 189 samples were collected for the study from various supermarkets and were tested for E. Coli and other bugs by Cambridge University scientists.
The research also found out that 51% of E. Coli detected in chicken and pork from the supermarket samples were resistant to an antibiotic called ‘trimethoprim’ which is used for treating more than half of bladder related infections, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported.
Also 36% of chicken samples along with 23% of pork samples were found to contain bacteria resistant to amoxicillin, a commonly used drug to treat urinary tract infections.
The research was funded by Alliance to Save our Antibiotics, which include the Soil Association, Compassion in World Farming and Sustain.
