Independent Laboratory Finds Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in More Than Half of Lidl GB’s Fresh Chicken Products
Tuesday 18 June, 2024 – An independent, accredited laboratory in Germany has conducted a microbiological test on fresh chicken products sold in Lidl GB stores, and the results are alarming. The investigation, commissioned by animal welfare charities including Open Cages, found that more than half of the products tested contained antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs.’ These findings have raised concerns about the potential threat to public health.
The test, which examined 40 fresh chicken products sold under Lidl’s flagship “Birchwood British” brand, was conducted on items purchased from five different stores across the UK. The lab found multi-resistant bacteria, such as ESBL or MRSA, on 23 products (58%), faecal bacteria E-Coli on 19 products (47.5%), and Listeria on 12 products (30%).
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can cause serious infections that may not respond to treatment with antibiotics. They can also spread the resistance to other bacteria, making future infections more difficult to treat. ESBL is a type of enzyme produced by some germs that commonly infect the gut and urinary tract, while MRSA is a type of bacteria that can cause serious infections and lead to painful and swollen skin, a high temperature, and difficulty breathing if it enters the body.
Professor Timothy Walsh, Research Director of Biology at the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research and Professor of Medical Microbiology at Oxford University, commented on the worrying trend of multi-resistant bacteria in meat. “The presence of these bacteria is a serious public health concern,” he said. “Consuming contaminated meat can make people sick, and the use of human antibiotics in animal production can have a long-term impact on the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating human infections.”
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria mutate or acquire genes that make them resistant to antibiotics. This can make treatments more difficult or entirely ineffective, putting individuals at risk for serious infections, including those who undergo surgery, C-sections, and chemotherapy.
Experts estimate that 1.27 million people died worldwide in 2019 from drug-resistant infections, with an additional 4.95 million dying from associated infections. In the UK, approximately 58,000 people were affected by antibiotic-resistant infections in 2022, and 2,200 died from them each year. The World Health Organisation has classified antimicrobial resistance as one of the top 10 global public health threats.
According to Professor Walsh, one of the main causes of resistant bacteria in chicken meat is the use of fast-growing breeds, a practice that has been criticized by animal welfare charities like Open Cages. These “Frankenchickens” have been selectively bred to produce large amounts of meat in the shortest possible time. However, their rapid growth also weakens their immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections and diseases.
“Poor animal welfare is a major driver of antibiotic use and subsequent resistance,” explains Professor Walsh. “By improving animal welfare, such as adopting slower-growing breeds in line with the Better Chicken Commitment, the need for antibiotics can be significantly reduced. UK supermarkets have a responsibility and obligation to ensure that the meat they sell is safe for consumption and free from antibiotic-resistant pathogens.”
The Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), a set of welfare measures designed by animal welfare specialists, prohibits the use of fast-growing breeds. Data from the Dutch broiler industry has shown that slower-growing chickens require nine times fewer antibiotics. While Lidl has recently committed to providing more space for chickens in line with BCC requirements, the company has yet to announce any plans to change the breeds they sell.
Connor Jackson, CEO of Open Cages, urges retailers to stop selling fast-growing chickens. “These alarming findings reveal that this issue is no longer just about animal welfare,” he says. “We are all paying the price. According to the tests, there is a 50% chance that a Lidl customer will bring potentially life-threatening superbugs into their home. Is cheap meat really worth risking our health?”
Changes in farming practices could have a significant impact on reducing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In 2017, 73% of all antimicrobials sold globally were for farmed animals, making factory farms a major driver of antibiotic resistance.
Hundreds of companies have already committed to stop selling fast-growing chickens, including M&S, Waitrose, KFC, Nando’s, all major French supermarkets, and even Lidl in France, Belgium, and Denmark.
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For more information, please contact Open Cages. The name of the laboratory conducting the test is being withheld due to their commercial relationship with the chicken industry.
Links:
– Full report and lab results
– Photos from an intensive chicken farm
– Please credit Open Cages for both.
About Timothy Walsh:
Professor Timothy R. Walsh, OBE, is Research Director of Biology
