We’ve all heard the warnings about superbugs, but a new study suggests we may be overlooking their most likely source: our dinner plates. Scientists are raising the alarm about antimicrobial resistance in food animals, warning that our current practices could be setting the stage for a global health catastrophe.
A recent review published in the International Journal of Food Science & Technology warns that the animals we eat could become the gateway for a devastating pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This silent threat, brewing in farms across Southeast Asia, has the potential to render our most potent medicines useless and unleash a wave of untreatable infections.
“There is a big pandemic waiting to happen in the form of antimicrobial resistance,” says Professor Rajaraman Eri, a veterinarian and Associate Dean of Biosciences and Food Technology at RMIT University, in a media release. “We’re going to face a situation in the world where will run out of antibiotics. That means we will not be able to treat infections.”
The World Health Organization’s prognosis is equally grim, estimating that drug-resistant diseases could cause up to 10 million deaths each year by 2050. This looming crisis isn’t just a distant concern for Southeast Asia – it’s a global threat with far-reaching implications, including for countries like Australia that have strong ties to the region.
The review, co-authored by Eri along with microbiologist Dr. Charmaine Lloyd from RMIT University and public policy expert Dr. Pushpanathan Sundram from Thailand, sheds light on two interconnected issues plaguing the food animal industry in Southeast Asia: antimicrobial resistance and residue.
Southeast Asia, home to billions of farm animals, has become what the researchers call an “epicentre” of antimicrobial resistance in animals. The region’s livestock sector, dominated by smallholder farmers, is not just a cornerstone of food security and economic well-being – it’s also a potential breeding ground for superbugs.
“On the farm, the presence of antibiotics in food, soil, water run-off and animal waste can contribute to this resistance developing,” explains Dr. Lloyd. “The overuse and misuse of antimicrobial drugs, especially for growth promotion in healthy animals, have resulted in the increased rate of resistance.”
However, resistance is only part of the problem. The review also highlights the issue of residues – leftover traces of drugs and chemicals in animal products. These residues, while different from resistance, pose their own set of health risks to consumers.
“Veterinary drug residues commonly arise from overusing and improper use of antimicrobial agents, growth promoters and other veterinary drugs in animal husbandry practices,” Eri notes.
The researchers emphasize the critical need to differentiate between residue and resistance, as each requires distinct strategies to address. They call for a multifaceted approach, including improved surveillance, responsible antibiotic use, better farming practices, stronger regulations, and regional cooperation.
Central to their recommendations is the adoption of a “One Health” approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. This holistic perspective is crucial for developing effective solutions to combat both residue and resistance.
“Efforts in the region to regulate antimicrobial use are underway, but there’s growing concern over consuming products with antimicrobial residues, which can impact human health due to the presence of antibiotic-resistant microbiota and pathogens in hosts,” Dr. Sundram points out.
The review offers a stark reminder that in our globalized world, health threats know no borders. What happens on farms in Southeast Asia can have ripple effects across the globe, potentially compromising the efficacy of our most important medicines.
Source: https://studyfinds.org/looming-pandemic-hiding-food/?nab=0