Polish meat supplier SuperDrob has come under scrutiny following an investigation by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ), which revealed their sourcing of chicken from factory farms that used medicines classified as “critically important” to human health. This investigation was prompted by a fatal salmonella outbreak in 2020, as well as 15 additional salmonella contaminations linked to poultry supplied by SuperDrob in the subsequent 18 months.
Despite a growing number of businesses achieving Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification, the salmonella outbreak resulted in five deaths. The FAIRR Protein Producer Index indicates that three-quarters of companies now possess some level of GFSI-recognized certification. However, Jo Raven, FAIRR’s director of Thematic Research & Engagements, states that today’s news highlights the inherent risks of antibiotic use within the protein supply chain. Antimicrobial resistance not only poses a global risk to public health but also a financial risk to investors in meat producers and retailers. This risk continues to rise despite the increase in GFSI-recognized certification among companies.
Approximately 70% of antibiotic use occurs within animal agriculture supply chains. Thus, it is evident that stronger regulations and stricter enforcement are necessary to maintain food safety and responsible antibiotic usage in the protein supply chain. TBIJ conducted tests on waste samples collected from various Polish poultry farms that supplied SuperDrob. The results revealed bacteria, including drug-resistant E. coli, that were resistant to fluoroquinolones, the antibiotics commonly used to treat salmonella infections. In certain cases, samples displayed resistance to multiple drugs.
As the UK revises its veterinary medicine regulations post-Brexit, there lies a valuable opportunity for the government to increase ambition and prevent a recurrence of such tragic outcomes. FAIRR’s Jo Raven emphasizes the need for stronger regulations to ensure food safety and responsible antibiotic use within the protein supply chain.
It is worth noting that a new report warns of an 8% increase in global antimicrobial use in animals by 2030 unless stronger restrictions are applied worldwide. This highlights the urgency of taking action to address this pressing issue.
In conclusion, the recent salmonella outbreaks and their link to antibiotic use in the poultry industry call for enhanced regulations and stricter enforcement to ensure food safety and responsible antibiotic usage. As the UK reassesses its veterinary medicine regulations, there lies an opportunity for the government to implement stronger measures. Failure to do so could result in a significant upsurge in global antimicrobial use, posing serious risks to both public health and the financial stability of meat producers and retailers.
