Antibiotics Resistance – a Ticking Time Bomb in UK Livestock and Meat

Superbugs in Meat sold by All Seven Major UK Supermarkets – source: S oil Association

Already for a few years, Prof Dame Sally Davies has been saying that antibiotic resistance is “a ticking time bomb”. And more and more studies support her statement.

In 2016, E. Coli resistant to the “critically important” antibiotics were found in 24% of meat sold at all major 7 supermarkets, a 4-fold increase on 2015 figures.

23% of chicken in UK Supermarkets Positive for E. Coli RESISTANT to the

24% of chicken in UK Supermarkets Positive for E. Coli RESISTANT to the “Critically Important” Drugs – source: Soil Association

HIGH Increase in Antibiotic Resistance - source: Soil Association

HIGH Increase in Antibiotic Resistance since 2015 – source: Soil Association

Emma Rose of the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics said: “These findings show the level of antibiotic resistance on retail meat to be worse than expected. Supermarkets must now publicly commit to polices which prohibit the routine mass-medication of groups of healthy animals, and take immediate steps to reduce farm use of the ‘Critically Important’ drugs.”

Dr Ron Daniels BEM, CEO of the UK Sepsis Trust said: “This study highlights a worrying trend towards rising resistance in E.coli on UK retail meat. E.coli in people is the greatest cause of deaths from sepsis, and poor antimicrobial stewardship in intensive farming is undoubtedly contributing to this trend. It’s of paramount importance that we act decisively to reduce this immediate threat to human life.”

Why is this happening?

Antibiotic % given to farm animals – source: Soil Association

Intensive farming & Routine Antibiotic Use

Intensive Farming – Daily Antibiotics – Crazy Policy!!!

The overuse of antibiotics used to mass medicate livestock on British farms is likely to be undermining the treatment of E. coli urinary-tract and blood-poisoning infections in humans. Some of the antibiotics tested are used in far greater quantities in livestock farming than in human medicine.

Implications for Human Health

Antibiotics Overuse Creates Deadly Superbugs – source: Soil Association

Antibiotic Resistance and Decreased Effectiveness – source: Soil Association

E. coli is a serious problm - source: Soil Association

E. coli is a serious problem – source: Soil Association

Health Crisis – source: Soil Association

ACTION POINTS

What can we do?

As individuals, we can:

Join the Soil Association’s “Save our Antibiotics” Campaign
Reduce meat consumption
Buy organic and free-range
Buy local from farmers you can trust to treat their animals well
Tell your friends about this issue
Pressurise supermarkets to reduce use of antibiotics, particularly their routine use
Ask our MPs to prioritise this issue

Farming sector and society as a whole: