Antibiotic-Resistant 'Superbugs' Creep Into Nation's Food Supply
By: Mark Koba Senior Editor, CNBC
Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Ground beef exits a grinder.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria—often
called "superbugs"—are entering the nation's food system and endangering
consumers at an alarming rate, according to researchers who analyzed
data from the federal government.
The Environmental Working Group said Monday that it had parsed studies from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System published in February.
"I think this is one of the greatest threats to us as a nation and the planet," said Lance B. Price, a professor of environmental and occupational health at George Washington University who helped review the government information for EWG.
"These bacteria are finding ways to get around antibiotics in animals, and it's similar to what's going on with the bacteria that's resistant in humans. They go hand in hand and it's a very under appreciated as a threat," Price said.
The group found that NARMS had reported—but had not highlighted—that antibiotic resistant bacteria was turning up in 81 percent of raw ground turkey, 69 percent of raw pork chops, 55 percent of raw ground beef and 39 percent of raw chicken bought over the counter in 2011.
The rate of occurrence in salmonella superbug strains in chicken rose from 50 percent in 2002 to 74 percent in 2011.
The Environmental Working Group said Monday that it had parsed studies from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System published in February.
"I think this is one of the greatest threats to us as a nation and the planet," said Lance B. Price, a professor of environmental and occupational health at George Washington University who helped review the government information for EWG.
"These bacteria are finding ways to get around antibiotics in animals, and it's similar to what's going on with the bacteria that's resistant in humans. They go hand in hand and it's a very under appreciated as a threat," Price said.
The group found that NARMS had reported—but had not highlighted—that antibiotic resistant bacteria was turning up in 81 percent of raw ground turkey, 69 percent of raw pork chops, 55 percent of raw ground beef and 39 percent of raw chicken bought over the counter in 2011.
The rate of occurrence in salmonella superbug strains in chicken rose from 50 percent in 2002 to 74 percent in 2011.
Nearly 30 million pounds of antibiotics were administered to livestock in 2011, according to EWG, a 22 rise from 2005. Antibiotics used on food-producing animals account for nearly 80 percent of the total market for such drugs in the U.S., according to the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming.
In addition to fighting disease, antibiotics are administered to put weight on animals headed for the kitchen table. Critics say this combination of uses helps bacteria develop resistance, just as overuse of antibiotics in humans has resulted in current medications' ineffectiveness against life-threatening micro-organisms.
(Read More: Superbugs Are a 'Costly War We Can't Win': Doctors)
"We've actually run out of antibiotics that really keep animals healthy," Price said. "We're finding strains of bacteria in animals that are resistant to so many antibiotics."
Those who promote antibiotic use in food animals argue that keep consumers safe.
"Antibiotics are a critical tool to prevent, control and treat disease in animals," states the Animal Health Institute, a trade group of drugmakers that develop veterinary medicines, on its website. "That's why the Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry."
(Read More: How Obamacare Could Boost Your Premiums)
"The safety mechanisms put in place by federal government agencies have been successful in allowing veterinarians and farmers to use antibiotics to keep animals healthy while protecting public health," the statement says.
The FDA has monitored antibiotic use on livestock and poultry for decades. Just last year, it called for curbing the amount given to animals because of concerns about superbugs. But the curbs are voluntary and nonbinding on livestock and poultry growers.
"There isn't much question that a handful of antibiotic-resistant bugs can give problems to the food source," said Richard Goering, a professor in the medical microbiology and immunology department at Creighton University.
"Even if you forget the superbugs, there's no question we have to be vigilant on the quality of our food," Goering said. "I think we're pretty good on the levels of food inspection, but I think we can do a better job."
Should consumers be worried? That depends, said Goering.
(Read More: Could China's Bird Flu Be the Next SARS?)
"The term superbug has a bit of panic to it," Goering said. "The bugs are treatable, but because they are becoming more resistant to medications, there is concern. The real issue it having an early-warning system to detect them and eliminate them."
There are an estimated 3.6 million cases of food poisoning each year, according to the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention. The symptoms can range from diarrhea to kidney failure, paralysis and even death. Salmonella-caused illnesses alone kill 400 people a year and create some 23,000 hospitalizations.
For Price, the spread of superbugs between humans and animals illustrates the growing danger.
"There's a deadly combination of people and animals with the superbugs," he argued. "We've got superbugs infecting people and also infecting animals. People can get sick from the animals and then up in the hospital and get sick there."
"I'm optimistic we can learn to curb the use of antibiotics in animals and humans," Price said. "But we have to start doing this now."
In addition to fighting disease, antibiotics are administered to put weight on animals headed for the kitchen table. Critics say this combination of uses helps bacteria develop resistance, just as overuse of antibiotics in humans has resulted in current medications' ineffectiveness against life-threatening micro-organisms.
(Read More: Superbugs Are a 'Costly War We Can't Win': Doctors)
"We've actually run out of antibiotics that really keep animals healthy," Price said. "We're finding strains of bacteria in animals that are resistant to so many antibiotics."
Those who promote antibiotic use in food animals argue that keep consumers safe.
"Antibiotics are a critical tool to prevent, control and treat disease in animals," states the Animal Health Institute, a trade group of drugmakers that develop veterinary medicines, on its website. "That's why the Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry."
(Read More: How Obamacare Could Boost Your Premiums)
"The safety mechanisms put in place by federal government agencies have been successful in allowing veterinarians and farmers to use antibiotics to keep animals healthy while protecting public health," the statement says.
The FDA has monitored antibiotic use on livestock and poultry for decades. Just last year, it called for curbing the amount given to animals because of concerns about superbugs. But the curbs are voluntary and nonbinding on livestock and poultry growers.
"There isn't much question that a handful of antibiotic-resistant bugs can give problems to the food source," said Richard Goering, a professor in the medical microbiology and immunology department at Creighton University.
"Even if you forget the superbugs, there's no question we have to be vigilant on the quality of our food," Goering said. "I think we're pretty good on the levels of food inspection, but I think we can do a better job."
Should consumers be worried? That depends, said Goering.
(Read More: Could China's Bird Flu Be the Next SARS?)
"The term superbug has a bit of panic to it," Goering said. "The bugs are treatable, but because they are becoming more resistant to medications, there is concern. The real issue it having an early-warning system to detect them and eliminate them."
There are an estimated 3.6 million cases of food poisoning each year, according to the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention. The symptoms can range from diarrhea to kidney failure, paralysis and even death. Salmonella-caused illnesses alone kill 400 people a year and create some 23,000 hospitalizations.
For Price, the spread of superbugs between humans and animals illustrates the growing danger.
"There's a deadly combination of people and animals with the superbugs," he argued. "We've got superbugs infecting people and also infecting animals. People can get sick from the animals and then up in the hospital and get sick there."
"I'm optimistic we can learn to curb the use of antibiotics in animals and humans," Price said. "But we have to start doing this now."
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