A recent study reveals UK supermarkets’ lack of action against antibiotic misuse in agriculture.
- New regulations were introduced in the UK this year aimed at limiting antibiotic use in farming.
- Research by the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics assesses supermarkets on their policies and transparency.
- Major chains have not fully implemented measures to restrict antibiotic use.
- M&S and Morrisons stand out for banning colistin, a critical antibiotic.
A recent study has brought to light the shortcomings of UK supermarkets in addressing the misuse of antibiotics within their supply chains. This finding is based on the implementation of new regulations designed to limit the use of antibiotics in farming practices within the UK. These regulations stipulate that antibiotics should not be employed to compensate for inadequate animal husbandry or poor hygiene conditions.
The Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics (ASOA) conducted an assessment, examining various aspects like the presence of targets for reducing antibiotic usage, the policies in place to ensure antibiotics are only used when necessary, and the coverage and monitoring of these policies. However, the study found that none of the ten supermarkets evaluated, including prominent names such as Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose, have published detailed data regarding the use of antibiotics by each farm supplier. Most of their policies only pertain to own-label products.
M&S emerged as the top performer in the study, receiving ten green ticks out of twelve, with the remaining two rated amber. This rating system signifies good practice with green, partial compliance with amber, and poor practice with red. Alongside Morrisons, M&S is notable for having a full ban on colistin, a last-resort antibiotic for human health, as recommended by the World Health Organization.
In contrast, Waitrose and Tesco were jointly ranked in second place, each earning six green ticks, five amber, and one red, primarily because they have not published data on antibiotic usage by farm system. Iceland’s response was to publicly dispute the study’s findings, arguing that their policies are directly communicated to suppliers rather than shared publicly. Iceland claims adherence to both UK and EU regulations and bars the use of critically important antibiotics like colistin.
The ASOA’s policy and science manager, Cóilín Nunan, emphasised the legal changes, noting, “It is no longer legal to use antibiotics to prop up farming methods causing animals to fall sick.” This underscores the necessity for supermarkets to undertake decisive actions to bolster animal husbandry and ensure animal welfare, reducing reliance on antibiotics significantly.
The study underscores a pressing need for greater transparency and action from UK supermarkets in managing antibiotic use effectively.
