‘Fight antibiotic resistance with food choice’

SHOPPERS should opt for organic or high-welfare meat to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant bugs, England’s chief medical officer has urged.

Dame Sally Davies warned that if antibiotics ceased to work, society would face an “apocalyptic” scenario in which treatments such as chemotherapy and hip replacements would become near impossible and common infections could kill.

Speaking at the World Innovation Summit on Health in Doha, Qatar, she urged shoppers to look out for symbols such as the Red Tractor, which represents organic meat and poultry produce, The Times reported.

“Like many people, I am eating less meat,” she said. “And yes, I do try to make sure it is at least Red Tractor. I want animals reared with good welfare standards and, actually, that means very low antibiotic use.”

While there are no traces of antibiotics in meat when it is sold, Dame Sally warned that drugs still pass through the animals. Globally, 70 per cent of antibiotics are used in farming and 70 per cent of those are to promote growth, something which has been banned in the EU since 2016.

A number of campaigns aimed at doctors and patients have had some success in reducing antibiotic use.

However, people are still at risk from developing antibiotic resistance.