M&S, Tesco, Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Sainsbury’s warned they 'are not doing enough'
UK supermarkets have been warned they are "not doing enough" to tackle antibiotic misuse. The findings come amid growing concerns about overuse of medicines in farm animals and rise of superbugs, with a damning report released today (Friday September 27).
Research by the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics (ASOA) ranked supermarkets based on a checklist of criteria. It includes whether the supermarket has a target on cutting antibiotic use, the produce these policies cover and whether the supermarket monitors antibiotic use in its supply chain.
Cóilín Nunan, a policy and science manager at ASOA, said: “Globally, it is estimated that about two-thirds of all antibiotics are used in farm animals. Yet supermarkets are often not checking whether imported food they are selling has been produced with routine antibiotic use. This is unfair on UK farmers, who are held to higher standards. More importantly, it is a threat to the health of consumers.”
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Marks & Spencer came out on top in the ranking system. M&S had 10 green ticks of a possible 12, and Waitrose and Tesco came joint second. The other supermarkets examined were Aldi, Asda, the Co-op, Iceland, Lidl and Sainsbury’s.
“It is no longer legal to use antibiotics to prop up farming methods that are causing animals to fall sick. So to avoid misusing antibiotics, and to keep animals healthy, supermarkets must now take strong and urgent action to improve animal husbandry and welfare,” Nunan said.
Ron Daniels, the vice-president of the Global Sepsis Alliance, said: “The stark reality is that multi-drug-resistant bugs are causing life-threatening infections in thousands of patients in our hospitals today, with many sadly dying as a consequence of sepsis. That is why all of society needs to urgently come together to address the drivers for rising rates of AMR urgently and cohesively, including addressing our desire to consume meat produced in intensive farming.”