Dangerous antibiotics in chicken fattening

Federal Institute for Risk Assessment classified the antibiotic use in animal husbandry for the consumer as a concern

11/01/2012

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) was not surprised by the findings of antibiotic-resistant germs on chicken meat, which were discovered in samples from BUND. Already in 2009, similar findings were made with turkey, veal and pork, explained the BfR. The use of human antibiotics in animal production must be checked. Agriculture Minister Aigner presented yesterday to a measure package.

According to BUND every second chicken charged with dangerous germs
In a sample carried out by the German Federal Government for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), ESBL germs were detected in ten of the 20 chicken meat samples tested, and both germs in two MRSA germs and in one sample. Both types of germs can cause serious damage to the health and even death of vulnerable, vulnerable people.

Professor Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR, explains: „The finding of such resistant germs on chicken meat is not a new discovery.“ Similar results were already presented in 2009 as part of zoonosis monitoring. MRSA germs were detected on 22.3 percent of the chicken meat samples and on 42.2 percent of the turkey meat samples. For pork, 15.8 percent and 12.9 percent for veal were affected by the dangerous germs.

According to BfR, there is a risk of people eating meat
According to BfR, it is possible to infect people with ESBL-producing pathogens via food intake. These germs can destroy antibiotics such as penicillins by enzymes and thus reduce or prevent their effect. So far, however, there is no way to estimate how high the real risk for humans is by eating contaminated meat.

Based on the available molecular biological findings, however, it can be deduced that a human health risk arises from ESBL-producing bacteria from animal husbandry. A major problem is especially in the resistance-conferring genes of the bacteria, which can be passed on to other types of bacteria and thus make other bacteria resistant to antibiotics. As a result, diseases can no longer be successfully treated with certain antibiotics.

BfR welcomes package of measures by Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner
The package of measures to reduce the use of antibiotics in animal production presented yesterday by Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner is welcomed by the BfR. The institute recommends rethinking the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. This applies in particular to antibiotics, which play an important role in human medicine. In principle, keeping and management of livestock should be significantly improved in order to keep the animals healthy. Then a treatment with antibiotics would be unnecessary. According to BfR, the method would also have to be reconsidered during slaughter to prevent germs being transmitted from animals to food. As a recommended intake, the BfR states that the meat should be heated well and the rules of kitchen hygiene must be observed.

Minister of Agriculture wants to limit antibiotic use
Yesterday, Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner presented a plan of action to limit the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry to a level absolutely necessary for the treatment of animals. Due to the strong use of antibiotics, animal breeders were sometimes accused of using antibiotics to increase their growth. However, this is illegal in Europe.

Aigner also wants to expand the control options of the authorities with its package of measures. „ We now need a concerted action: a restrictive and to a minimum limited use of antibiotics in animal husbandry, a consistent monitoring of the relevant regulations and application of antibiotics by the Länder authorities and, where necessary, a consistent punishment of violations“, the minister explained yesterday in Berlin. In addition, to prevent the infection of the animals with each other, the housing conditions would have to be improved.

Aigner relies on the federal states, which now have improved control options: „The federal government ensures that the competent state authorities can fulfill their monitoring tasks even more effectively, even faster and even less bureaucratic. The countries are now required to exploit these opportunities. The goal of significantly reducing the use of antibiotics is only achievable if everyone pulls together.“ (Ag)

Also read:
Massive germs in chicken due to antibiotics
Massive use of antibiotics in farm animals
Health: Chicken full of antibiotics
Antibiotics contaminated chicken
Health: Chicken full of antibiotics
Alternatives to antibiotics from naturopathy
Individual dosage of antibiotics required
There are no mild antibiotics

Picture: Nico Lubaczowski