Polish supplier of chicken under scrutiny over use of antibiotics

A major supplier of chicken to UK supermarkets is sourcing birds dosed with antibiotics “critical to human health”, a new investigation has said, amid rising threat of superbugs.

According to Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ), the Polish meat business SuperDrob, which sells frozen poultry products to Lidl, Asda and Iceland, is sourcing chicken from farms that use fluoroquinolone antibiotics, classified as “critically important for human health” by the World Health Organization (WHO).

SuperDrob is one of Poland’s leading poultry producers and more than 50 per cent of its revenue is from exports. Three sources, including a farmer who supplies chicken to SuperDrob and a vet who serves supplying farms, confirmed that fluoroquinolone antibiotics were being used, according to interviews conducted by the BIJ, The Guardian reported. Testing undertaken by the BIJ, overseen by an Oxford University academic, in May discovered bacteria resistant to fluoroquinolones in samples of waste collected from a number of Polish poultry farms that are understood to have supplied SuperDrob.

SuperDrob said the drugs were in use, but that it had firm policies in place to ensure they were only used when justified.

“Where there is a veterinary need for medical treatment, then it is used under the supervision of veterinarians,” the report stated, adding that the company also said it was reducing the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics and would phase them out by 2025.

Giving antibiotics to animals has come under increasing scrutiny lately as scientists highlight the risks of potentially lethal bacteria developing antibiotic resistance. There are growing concerns that farmers giving these critically important antibiotics to their animals may contribute to the problem.

Reacting to the claims, Asda said all its imported frozen poultry products went through rigorous safety and quality checks. Iceland Foods said it prohibited its suppliers from prophylactically using antibiotics that were critical for treating diseases in humans. Lidl also said its suppliers were prohibited from using antibiotics as a preventive measure.