Federal Office warns against bacteria in meat

Bacteria detected in meat. Federal Office warns against bacteria contaminated beef, lamb and game. There is currently no danger to health.

(09.07.2010) Currently, the Federal Research Institute for Nutrition and Food warns of bacteria in various types of meat. There is currently no danger to health, so the lowest warning level is initially declared. Although you can no longer eat the meat, a threat to health is currently unlikely, as they say.

The institute had found bacteria in beef, game and lamb. The bacteria were detected in vacuum-packed meat. The germs "Clostridium estertheticum" were found. The germs are cold-resistant and can therefore also be in the chilled meat. The meat spoils even before the expiration date has been reached. Consumers can detect contaminated meat based on the malodor and bloated packaging. The meat should then no longer be eaten, or even no longer be bought. How much of the contaminated meat entered the market can not be estimated at present.

According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), the germs "Clostridium estertheticum" are not regarded as hazardous to health and can not cause any diseases. The germs generally occur everywhere in nature and the environment. The experts assume that the germs were transmitted during skinning and filleting. In contrast to other germs, the germs found especially like to multiply in a cold environment. The "Clostridium estertheticum" prefers temperatures of 1 to 16 degrees Celsius. Recognizable are the bacteria u.a. because of the development of foul-smelling gases, which also cause the meat packaging to puff up.

Since the bacteria can not trigger any symptoms or diseases, no comparisons should be made to "rotten meat" scandals. Corresponding reports in the media therefore do not reflect reality. In recent years, it has been repeatedly public knowledge that spoiled meat had deliberately entered the market. The current findings, however, can not be assumed. However, the bacteria found so far have hardly been researched. The germ should not be dangerous. (Sb)

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Picture: Uschi Dreiucker