The European Food Safety Authority has just published an assessment on the potential contribution of food and food-producing animals to the public health risks posed by bacteria that produce enzymes that makes them resistant to treatments with certain broad spectrum antibiotics. In particular, E. coli and Salmonella species produce the enzymes which confers on them antimicrobial resistance. The BIOHAZ expert panel of the EFSA concluded that decreasing the overall use of antibiotics in food-producing animals should be of high priority in the EU as these bacterial strains are often resistant to many other commonly used veterinary drugs. It was also concluded that an additional risk factor is the extensive trade of animals in EU Member States. See the full story here – http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/110802a.htm?WT.mc_id=RSS&emt=1
Richard Mallett
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