Lidl Germany: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in 71% of chicken samples

Many European animal rights organisations are holding the company to account.

According to the Spanish daily ABC Sociedad, the non-governmental organisation Animal Welfare Observatory (Equalia) published in May this year an analysis of chicken products from Lidl in Germany, which showed that 71% of the samples were contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The study, commissioned by the Albert Schweitzer Foundation, examined a total of 51 supermarket products in Germany between January and February 2023, which were bought directly from the supermarket, the NGO explains, by the laboratory’s field staff, strictly following the refrigerated chain. 

The study found that chicken meat products contained numerous bacteria, noting that most of the bacteria were Escherichia coli (75%), while also finding in all samples the enzyme ESBL, which makes bacteria immune to many common antibiotics. The lab also identified “Enterococcus” (in 25% of the samples), “Campylobacter” (18%) and Salmonella (one sample).

The report by the non-governmental organisation Equalia shows that these bacteria can affect everyone, as the germs can spread through drains or ventilation systems. The Spanish press has picked up the information, and Lidl said that products contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria have not reached Spanish shelves. At the same time, Lidl says that the bacteria in the chicken is not a consequence of the suppliers’ method of rearing, but is a general problem for the whole poultry industry.

The European Chicken Commitment is advocated as the current solution to reduce health risks for both chickens and consumers.

To eliminate the risks that lead to such problems, many animal rights organisations, including Equalia in Spain, the Albert Schweitzer Foundation in Germany, and the Freedom and Respect for Every Earthling (F.R.E.E.) Association in Romania, are campaigning for the European Chicken Commitment to raise animal welfare standards and protect consumer health. Nearly 400,000 people have called on Lidl to improve the living conditions of chickens by taking the European Chicken Commitment.

Across Europe, nearly 400 companies have pledged to improve animal husbandry standards and food safety. The data from this study shows the need to reduce the use of antibiotics on farms, both for the welfare of the animals and to prevent the emergence of these pathogens.

The Romanian organisation Freedom and Respect for Every Earthling (F.R.E.E.) has produced a Responsibility Report, where they gathered scientific findings on fast growing chickens, advocating for its ban. One passage includes the estimate that globally, animal agriculture is responsible for about 66% of all antibiotic use, with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria arising from this overuse. Not only is there significant evidence of the development of this resistance through the use of antibiotics in broiler production, but there is also evidence that faster growing breeds require 3 to 5 times more antibiotics than slower growing breeds.

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