EFSA evaluates the public health risk of bacterial strains resistant to certain antimicrobials in food and food-producing animals

2 August 2011

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published an assessment on the potential contribution of food and food-producing animals to the public health risks posed by bacteria that produce enzymes that makes them resistant to treatments with broad spectrum beta-lactams. EFSA’s Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ Panel) concludes that the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals is a risk factor for the spread of these bacterial strains.

The experts recommend that decreasing the overall use of antimicrobials in food- producing animals in the European Union (EU) should be a priority in terms of limiting the risk to public health...

Source: EFSA evaluates the public health risk of bacterial strains resistant to certain antimicrobials in food and food-producing animals
Author: EFSA