A review for the FSA finds data lacking or out-of-date, and calls for more systematic monitoring of the extent to which animal products on sale in the UK can transmit hard-to-treat infections.
The ability of bacteria to resist treatment with antibiotics -- technically known as 'antimicrobial resistance' -- is a major public health concern. It is feared that if antibiotics become ineffective, diseases that are currently treatable could become life-threatening and routine surgical procedures could become unsafe. One way in which people can be exposed to AMR bacteria is through the food chain.
In response to this concern, the Food Standards Agency commissioned this 'systematic review' of surveillance data, to find out how well the incidence of antibiotic-resistant bugs is being monitored in meat and dairy products on sale in the UK.
Its main finding was that despite the urgency of the need, there is in fact a lack of surveillance data on the topic, for both UK-produced and imported foods. It makes a series of recommendations for strengthening and standardising the testing regime, and extending it beyond meat to include other animal-derived products.
Read the report here, and find out more here about Sustain's campaign work for a safer, healthier and fairer food system.
Published Sunday 4 December 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
