Chicken is heavy with “superbug” bacteria, a watchdog group said on Thursday.
Consumer Reports tested 306 samples of chicken across the United States, including 252 samples from conventionally produced chicken, and 64 from brands that use no antibiotics in raising chickens, including 24 organic samples.
The group found that every one of the chicken samples from the four major brands (Perdue, Pilgrim’s, Sanderson Farms, and Tyson) contained “worrisome amounts” of bacteria–”even the chicken breasts labeled ‘no antibiotics’ or ‘organic.’”
Almost none of the samples were totally free from bacteria. More than 50 percent of the samples had fecal contaminants, which cause blood and urinary-tract infections, among other potential problems.
About half of the sampled raw chicken breasts had antibiotic-resistant “superbug” bacteria, the group added. It said that the findings were similar to what the Food and Drug Administration found in its National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System of retail meat.
Consumer Reports' findings, show that nearly all the chicken, regardless of brand or label, harbored at least one of six potentially harmful bacteria including E. coli and salmonella. "The stuff can even hang out on the outside of the package," said Urvashi Rangan, a toxicologist and executive director of the Consumer Reports Food Safety and Sustainability Center. "We're talking about serious potential for problems."
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration released controversial new guidance addressing antibiotic overuse in livestock.
The agency has asked drug companies to voluntarily change their labels over the next three years to exclude growth promotion as a use for antibiotics. The rules, developed with the cooperation of industry, pertain to hundreds of antibiotics used to treat people -- including key weapons in fighting urinary tract infections and infections after surgeries. If a label changes, then farmers or feed mills would need to obtain a prescription from a veterinarian to treat a sick animal or to prevent disease. Before, they could simply buy the drugs from a feed store and administer them without a vet.
Critics say the FDA rules likely won't change the widespread use of antibiotics in livestock.
Consumer Reports' findings, show that nearly all the chicken, regardless of brand or label, harbored at least one of six potentially harmful bacteria including E. coli and salmonella. "The stuff can even hang out on the outside of the package," said Urvashi Rangan, a toxicologist and executive director of the Consumer Reports Food Safety and Sustainability Center. "We're talking about serious potential for problems."
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration released controversial new guidance addressing antibiotic overuse in livestock.
The agency has asked drug companies to voluntarily change their labels over the next three years to exclude growth promotion as a use for antibiotics. The rules, developed with the cooperation of industry, pertain to hundreds of antibiotics used to treat people -- including key weapons in fighting urinary tract infections and infections after surgeries. If a label changes, then farmers or feed mills would need to obtain a prescription from a veterinarian to treat a sick animal or to prevent disease. Before, they could simply buy the drugs from a feed store and administer them without a vet.
Critics say the FDA rules likely won't change the widespread use of antibiotics in livestock.
Read more
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/19/antibiotic-resistance-chicken-consumer-reports_n_4469575.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/408691-chicken-superbug-more-than-50-percent-of-chicken-has-superbug-bacteria/
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