High levels of E. coli found in raw meat and raw dog food sold Grocery store In the UK, according to research presented at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global Congress in Barcelona last week.
According to a press release, researchers from the University of Bristol examined 58 samples of raw beef, chicken, pork and lamb sold at grocery stores in the UK, as well as those sold at “specialty pet stores.” Also examined were 15 samples of raw dog food.
Adulteration was found in 81 percent of meat samples and 87 percent of dog food samples. E. coli (Escherichia coli) Which was resistant to antibiotics.
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Raw chicken had the highest levels of resistant intestinal bacteria.
“E. coli is an intestinal bacteria that can spread among cows and chickens used for meat, especially when they are raised in dirt or close together,” says Dr. Mark Siegel, clinical professor of medicine. NYU Langone Medical Center And a Fox News medical contributor told Fox News Digital.
High levels of E. coli were found in raw meat and raw dog food sold in grocery stores, according to research presented at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global Congress in Barcelona last week. (iStock)
“Since poultry and meat cows are often fed antibiotics to grow and protect against infection, this helps breed resistant strains, which emerge due to antibiotic overuse.”
Siegel was not involved in the study.
“This study confirms that raw meat contains many resistant E. coli, including resistance to commonly used critically important antibiotics. human health” the study authors said in a press release from ESCMID.
“E. coli is an intestinal bacteria that can spread among cows and chickens used for meat, especially when they are raised in filth or together.” (iStock)
Matthew B., professor at the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Bristol and author of the study. According to Avison, if swallowed, the bacteria can take up residence in the intestines and cause resistant infections.
“They can live in your gut for years without causing disease, and in some cases the bacteria will later cause a variety of diseases, including urinary tract infections and bloodstream infection It can kill,” Avison told Fox News Digital.
“Infections with resistant bacteria are more difficult to treat and therefore more likely to get worse.”
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Raw meat that people eat after cooking is “commonly contaminated” with antibiotic-resistant E. coli, Avison said.
The study’s results were not surprising, he said, because there have been “numerous reports” of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. raw meat And some studies are showing it in raw dog food.
“In some cases, the bacteria will later cause a variety of diseases, including urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections.”
“People often assume that because raw dog food is sold frozen, the freezing kills the bacteria, but we’ve shown that’s not the case,” Avison told Fox News Digital.
“There were just as many samples of chicken-based raw dog food contaminated with resistant E. coli as there were samples of raw chicken meat. If you feed your dog raw meat, however, you are likely feeding him antibiotic-resistant E. coli “
Avison said these findings explain why researchers had previously found a strong association between feeding raw meat to dogs and dogs excreting resistant E. coli in their stool.
“People often assume that because raw dog food is sold frozen, the freezing kills the bacteria on it, but we’ve shown that’s not the case,” one researcher told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
Most people are not aware of the risks of these antibiotic-resistant pathogens, the researchers said in the release.
He stressed the importance of cooking meat thoroughly before eating and using “proper hygiene practices” when preparing it.
“Cooking the meat properly will kill those bacteria,” Avison advises.
“Treat all raw meat as if it is contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and assume fed raw meat to dogs Will emit resistant bacteria,” he added.
“Use proper hand washing and general hygiene practices to reduce the risk of you and other people accidentally swallowing these bacteria.”
“If you feed your dog raw meat, you are probably feeding him antibiotic-resistant E. coli.”
Avison said dog owners who feed their pets raw meat should dispose of the animal’s waste hygienically.
“Don’t let your dog lick your face or share your bed, and wash your hands after petting him,” he advises. “These are all common sense practices anyway, but it’s even more important if you feed your dog raw.”
The researchers stressed the importance of cooking meat thoroughly before eating and using “proper hygiene practices” when preparing it. (iStock)
“And, of course, in terms of hygiene and cleaning practices, treat raw dog food as if it were any raw meat.”
The study raises a “red flag,” Siegel said, emphasizing the importance of making sure poultry and meat are fully cooked before human consumption, and that dog food is cooked as well.
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Andre Delattre, chief operating officer of Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG) in Washington, DC, said the study “underscores the importance of ending the routine practice.” use of antibiotics In animal agriculture.”
“Use proper hand washing and general hygiene practices to reduce the risk of you and other people accidentally getting these bacteria into your body,” the researchers said. (iStock)
“An inevitable byproduct of antibiotic overuse is resistance to these drugs,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Studies have also shown that meat raised without antibiotics is less likely to be contaminated with resistant bacteria.”
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The University of Bristol study was published on a pre-print server and has not yet been peer-reviewed.
Fox News Digital contacted the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for comment.
For more health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health,