Chickens contaminated by superbug, study reveals

Last updated at 16:18 15 August 2005


Food campaigners have called for Government monitoring of chicken after an investigation revealed half of the samples on sale in the UK were contaminated by superbugs.

More than half the British chickens tested for a BBC investigation contained antibiotic-resistant E.coli. The germs were also found in a third of the samples of UK and overseas chicken bought from British suppliers.

The E.coli was resistant to the antibiotic Trimethaprim which is used to treat bladder infections. Health Protection Agency scientists who tested the meat found 12 of the chickens had antibiotic resistant Campylobacter.

And Vancomycin Resistant Enteroccci was found in one in 25 of the samples, although more tests would be needed to confirm the exact type of the bug found.

Richard Young, the Soil Association's policy advisor, said: "Everyone knows about superbugs like MRSA but the growing problem of drug-resistant E.coli poses a potentially bigger problem because the infection is so much more common."

Detailed study needed

Mr Young said the Government had already carried out studies of antibiotic resistance in pigs, cattle and sheep.

He called for similar surveys of chicken, saying: "It is appalling that no similar detailed surveillance has been undertaken for chicken, despite the fact that chicken is the biggest source of foodborne infections in the UK."

The British Poultry Council said the BBC's snapshot survey wasn't detailed enough to raise any new issues to concern the industry.

It said studies by the Veterinary Laboratory Agency consistently showed much lower percentages of samples with antibiotic-resistant organisms.

'Questionable survery'

The BPC said in a statement: "To use the results of this small and questionable survey instead of existing, more comprehensive, soundly based and scientifically reviewed studies of antibiotic resistance across all food animal species, would be irresponsible."

Most watched News videos