UK pork products sold by some of the major supermarkets have been found to be contaminated with a livestock strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
The University of Cambridge conducted a study to test 97 UK-produced pork samples from seven major supermarkets such as Tescos, Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons, Aldi, the Coop, Waitrose for MRSA.
The tests have revealed that three samples collected from Asda and Sainsbury’s stores contained MRSA, The Guardian reported.
The three samples were found to be resistant to tetracyclines, which are the most widely used antibiotics in intensive pig farming.
The Alliance to Save our Antibiotics said that the study was carried out using samples purchased by it for a previous study on antibiotic resistant E.coli.
The Guardian, working with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ), has also revealed that a “loophole” in UK import regulations is leading to supply of MRSA CC398-infected live pigs from countries such as Denmark.
MRSA CC398, a deadly bacteria, is said to be a cause for at least six deaths in Denmark.
Alliance to Save our Antibiotics said in a statement: “Current UK policy measures and controls aimed at managing the risk of LA-MRSA are far from adequate. Astonishingly, no active surveillance of the British pig herd has occurred since 2009, despite repeated calls for such testing from organisations such as the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics.
“As a result of this apathetic approach - and because many pigs with the bacteria show no visible infection - we do not know how widespread MRSA is in British pigs, and cannot make an accurate assessment of the potential risk to human health.”
