Revealed: Top meat health worry is animals on antibiotics

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This article is part of our 2016 meat, fish & poultry digital feature

Brits are more concerned about links between superbugs and the use of antibiotics on livestock than any other health issue relating to meat consumption, The Grocer can reveal.

Antibiotics use on livestock has been linked to the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as salmonella and e coli in humans and animals. Thirty per cent of Brits are worried about the issue, making it the third biggest concern after animal welfare and mislabelling.

Although the risk of food poisoning, cancer and heart disease in meat consumption are of less concern to Brits than antibiotics, our poll of 2,023 consumers by Harris Interactive suggests many do not understand why their use on livestock poses a threat to humans.

What are you worried about when it comes to the meat & poultry you buy?

	Total	Male	Female	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55+
Animal welfare	38%	31%	43%	36%	33%	37%	37%	41%
If the meat is really what the label says it is	32%	28%	35%	23%	25%	28%	32%	39%
Use of antibiotics in meat production	30%	28%	32%	18%	24%	28%	30%	39%
Food poisoning	28%	27%	29%	37%	26%	26%	25%	27%
Risk of cancer	22%	25%	20%	26%	26%	23%	22%	19%
Risk of heart disease	20%	20%	19%	18%	21%	18%	22%	19%
Food poisoning from campylobacter specifically	18%	17%	20%	12%	11%	15%	19%	24%
Environmental impact of meat production	17%	14%	19%	22%	19%	15%	15%	16%
Risk of obesity	16%	17%	15%	21%	21%	15%	17%	12%
Mad Cow Disease / BSE	16%	14%	17%	10%	13%	16%	18%	17%
None of the above	24%	25%	23%	13%	25%	22%	28%	26%
I don’t buy meat or poultry	5%	5%	5%	10%	3%	5%	4%	4%

“Six in 10 consumers claim to be aware of issues with antibiotics, which seems high, however there is a lack of awareness of what the exact issues are,” says Harris Interactive head of CPG & retail Tania Page, pointing out that 22% say they’re not sure why antibiotics use is a concern.

“Intensive farming practices and consumer demand for cheaper meat are seen as the main reasons for the use of antibiotics in food production. Only one in 10 says this isn’t a concern, so this is potentially something the meat, fish & poultry industry needs to address.”

Were you aware about concerns over the use of antibiotics on livestock before today?

	Total	Male	Female	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55+
Yes - there’s a link to antibiotic resistance in humans	33%	33%	33%	30%	26%	27%	32%	41%
Yes - but I am not sure exactly why	22%	22%	21%	19%	26%	21%	20%	22%
Yes - it’s bad for the animals	15%	15%	14%	17%	18%	15%	13%	13%
Yes - for another reason	1%	1%	1%	1%	1%	1%	-	-
No	38%	36%	40%	40%	38%	45%	42%	32%

Processors are already taking steps to cut the use of antibiotics. Poultry processor 2 Sisters pledged in May to remove all antibiotics deemed critical to human health from its supply chain, prompting a slew of similar assurances from rivals.

In June, The Grocer reported that Karro Food Group had registered a trademark depicting a pig’s head with the words ‘antibiotic free’ written above it. “Karro is proud to boast an antibiotic-free herd from which we supply pork to markets where there is significant demand,” said a spokesman.

Who or what is to blame for this problem?

	Total	Male	Female	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55+
Intensive farming practices	48%	47%	50%	39%	31%	42%	50%	62%
Consumers demanding cheap meat	38%	35%	41%	38%	32%	33%	40%	44%
Foreign meat importers	32%	30%	35%	25%	23%	24%	36%	43%
The supermarkets driving down prices	32%	32%	33%	26%	30%	26%	34%	38%
Vets prescribing antibiotics too readily	29%	28%	30%	24%	25%	22%	27%	38%
The general industry climate	27%	26%	28%	26%	27%	22%	32%	29%
Farmers not doing all they can to improve welfare through other means	25%	24%	26%	25%	20%	25%	25%	26%