An Equalia NGO analysis carried out on Lidl brand chicken products reveals that 71% of the samples were contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
This study, commissioned by the Albert Schweitzer Foundation and released this Wednesday, examined 51 supermarket products in Germany between January and February this year that were purchased directly from Lidl by laboratory field staff, who strictly respected the supply chain. refrigeration and examined the products immediately.
The report also reveals that these bacteria can affect “everyone,” as resistant germs can spread into the environment through sewage or ventilation systems.
With the aim of putting an end to these potential risks, Equalia ONG leads a European campaign to ask the Lidl supermarket to adhere to the European Chicken Commitment (ECC) to safeguard the health of consumers. In addition, the NGO stresses that this European policy already has the commitment of more than 300 companies to improve food safety and animal welfare.
The data revealed this Wednesday by Equalia on the massive presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in chicken products analyzed in Germany demonstrate the need to reduce the use of antibiotics on farms not only to improve animal welfare, but also to prevent the emergence of these pathogens.
Most of the bacteria (75%) were 'Escherichia coli' and the enzyme ESBL, which renders the bacteria immune to several common antibiotics, was detected in all samples.. The laboratory also found 'Enterococcus' (in 25% of the samples), 'Campylobacter' (18%) and Salmonella (one sample).
With these results, Equalia regretted that bacteria resistant to antibiotics spread and the effectiveness of antibiotics decreases, which causes an increase in their use and favors the growth of resistant bacteria.
“Developing new reserve antibiotics is expensive and takes a long time,” said the NGO, which considered it “urgent” to reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock throughout Europe.. For example, German cattle receive about 670 tons of antibiotics per year, with an average of 88 milligrams of antibiotics per kilogram of meat.. A similar situation occurs in Spain, according to Equalia.