Salmonella contamination

Press, 5 March 1987, Page 14

Salmonella contamination

NZPA-APq ew York

Scientists at the United States Federal Centres for Disease Control have found new evidence linking antibiotics in animal feed to illness in humans, according to the “New York Times.” A draft of the Federal study said findings showed conclusively that salmonella bacteria was spread to humans because of the use of antibiotics, the newspaper said; The findings of the study would be published in the “New England Journal of Medicine” on March 5. Antibiotics were included in feed for most livestock in the United States to promote growth and protect animals from disease. But in recent years scientists said strains of salmonella flourished in the animals as other organisms were killed.

The salmonella could cause severe intestinal ailments in people who ate contaminated meat, and treatment was difficult because the antibiotics normally used were ineffective.

“These studies show that food animals are a major source of anti-microbial-resistant salmonella infections in humans,” the report said. The C.D.C. report carefully traced salmonella from farms to sick people, ruling out the possibility of contamination during processing or transporting. The study also concluded that cooking did not kill all the salmonella organisms.

“The problem is complex and no one solution is apparent,” the study said. “Efforts must be taken to minimise the contamination of meat and other food items by resistant salmonella.”