Antibiotics fed to US animals but banned in UK ‘may undermine drugs for cancer, Covid and infections’

A report has warned that a ban on chlorinated chicken and hormone beef in a UK-US trade deal would not be enough to protect consumers.

A report has warned that animals reared in the US and whose meat is set to be imported under post-Brexit trade deals, are fed ten antibiotics which are banned in the UK, potentially undermining treatments for cancer, infections and even coronavirus.

According to the Sustainable Food Trust (SFT), bringing the meat into the UK would be a serious backward step in the fight against antibiotic resistance, and consuming the meat itself could create a cancer risk.

The research concluded that simply banning chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef would not be enough to protect UK consumers if a trade deal is agreed between the UK and the US.

The report said “In one case (that of carbadox) the principal concern is not antibiotic resistance, but the drug’s carcinogenic properties and the potential for residues in pig meat. The (Food and Drug Administration) has been facing strong opposition from the industry for four years over its attempts to ban this antibiotic in pig production.”

The report added “There are human health concerns about meat produced with each of the products covered in this report. Some are immediate, others are more long-term and relate to the compromising of antibiotics identified as having the potential to treat hospital superbugs, cure cancer and even, in one case, treat Covid-19.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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