More than half of Lidl’s chickens are infected with potentially deadly, drug-resistant ‘superbugs’, tests show.
The results showed that 23 of the 40 products analyzed were positive for MRSA and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), bacteria that no longer respond to antimicrobial treatment.
The diarrhea-causing bug E. Coli was also found in 19 chickens bought from British stores.
The retailer argued that it had not itself recorded any ‘deviations outside legal levels’, and that no concerns had been flagged by regulators.
The results also do not imply any specific health risk for consumers.
But animal welfare charities, which commissioned the research, today branded the results ‘unacceptable’ and called on the poultry industry to curb antibiotic use.
The results showed that 23 of the 40 products analyzed were positive for MRSA and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), bacteria that no longer respond to antimicrobial treatment. Diarrhea caused by E. Coli bacteria was also recorded in 19 chickens bought from UK stores
The retailer argued that it had not itself recorded any ‘deviations outside legal levels’, and that no concerns had been flagged by regulators. But animal welfare charities, which commissioned the research, today branded the results ‘unacceptable’ and called on the poultry industry to curb the use of antibiotics.
Timothy Walsh, professor of medical microbiology and antibiotic resistance at the University of Oxford, said: ‘The presence of multi-resistant bacteria in meat is a worrying trend and poses a serious public health problem.’
He added: ‘Poor animal welfare is one of the main catalysts for antibiotic use and subsequent drivers of antibiotic resistance.
‘Improving animal welfare, such as adopting slower growing breeds in line with the Better Chicken Commitment, can significantly reduce the need for antibiotics for the birds in the first place.
UK supermarkets have a responsibility and obligation to ensure that the meat sold is safe for consumption and free from antibiotic-resistant pathogens.”
All 40 products, bought by campaign group Open Cages, were sold in five stores in Manchester, Birmingham and London under Lidl’s flagship ‘Birchwood British’ chicken brand.
The samples included whole roast chickens, packs of thighs, drumsticks and breast meat.
It was then packed in cool bags and sent by refrigerated truck to a laboratory in Germany.
Open Cages has shared its name with MailOnline, but the lab has asked not to be named for fear of criticism.
Researchers found that twelve products also contained listeria, which can cause fever, illness and diarrhea.
However, the report does not include the full test results of each poultry product, including the levels of the pathogens allegedly present and whether they are within or outside legal limits.
No details were also given about when the products were tested and the chicken’s expiration date.
Connor Jackson, co-founder of Open Cages, which lobbies to end factory farming, said: ‘There is no specific benchmark for what is too high. But everyone agrees that they should be reduced.
‘The point about these findings is that they are extremely high.’
He also told MailOnline: ‘This is a serious problem affecting public safety and animal welfare.
‘If Lidl were to stop selling frankenchickens, as is happening in France and other European countries, they would make a huge difference to the health and welfare of their chickens.’
Drug-resistant infections kill an estimated 1.3 million people worldwide each year, and this number is expected to rise to 10 million by 2050 if no action is taken.
Multidrug-resistant bacteria can spread from animals to humans through the food chain, but due to commercial sensitivities, data on the number of antibiotic-resistant insects in food is not widely available.
However, the use of antibiotics in British farm animals has fallen in recent years, causing sales to fall by 59 percent in 2022 compared to 2014.
The free-range egg farms in Leeds, Powys and Leicestershire all supplied major supermarkets in the UK, including Sainsbury’s. Chickens are pictured huddled in one of the sheds on the farm in Powys
In some cases, the horrific conditions caused the chickens to become distressed, causing them to lose feathers and exhibit behaviors towards each other, including bullying, aggressive pecking and even cannibalism. Pictured is a freezer full of dead chicken carcasses on the farm in Powys
The test results are not related to recent recalls of E. Coli sandwiches in supermarkets, in which more than 200 Britons have been affected by Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), a rare variant of the insect.
Lidl said the tests involved only a small sample of raw, uncooked meat, tested outside UK guidelines.
There is also little evidence that the cold chain remained intact during shipment, it added.
A spokesperson for the supermarket told MailOnline: ‘Food safety is a priority for our business and all products are subject to extensive quality checks throughout the supply chain.
‘We work closely with our suppliers and a wide range of industrial partners, aligning our policies with the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (Ruma) and the Food Industry Initiative on Antimbiotics (FIIA) to ensure responsible and Ruma-recommended use of antibiotics. while ensuring animal welfare remains a priority.
‘Our own testing shows that there have been no micro-related deviations outside legal levels over the past 12 months, and no concerns have been raised to us on this subject by regulatory bodies.
‘It is therefore clear and deeply concerning that Open Cages continues to spread false and inaccurate information, with the clear aim of attracting media attention and misleading both fearmongers and the public.
‘If Open Cages has genuine and verified concerns about the presence of pathogens in fresh British chicken, we encourage the company to work with verified sources and share its full findings with ourselves or the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for further investigation .’
It comes as five farms were stripped of their ‘RSPCA Assured’ status in March after an undercover investigation revealed chickens were living in ‘appalling’ conditions.
The free-range egg farms in Leeds, Powys and Leicestershire all supplied major supermarkets in the UK, including Sainsbury’s.
Secretly filmed footage from Animal Justice Project (AJP) showed the tens of thousands of birds living in dark and cramped sheds surrounded by the bodies and skeletons of dead chickens.
In some cases, the horrific conditions caused the chickens to become distressed, causing them to lose feathers and exhibit behaviors towards each other, including bullying, aggressive pecking and even cannibalism.
The latest statistics show that the average Briton consumes 35kg of poultry meat every year.
To avoid food poisoning, people should make sure they cook chicken thoroughly, separate meat from other foods, keep it in the refrigerator and wash their hands and utensils after handling raw meat, the FSA said.
Chicken should also not be washed as this could cause bacteria to splash elsewhere in the kitchen, it added.