According to a meatwatch study conducted on April 16 by Germanwatch, an environmental and consumer organization, more than half of chicken sold in low-cost supermarkets in Germany is contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Germanwatch described the results of its study as an “frighteningly high level of resistance,” which shows that overuse of antibiotics in poultry farming threatens human health.

The organization examined 59 chicken samples from large discount supermarkets in a university laboratory and found antibiotics resistant microbes in 56% of the samples. Meat samples were obtained at the four largest slaughterhouses in Germany. In response to the results of the study, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture stated that it “suggests that too many antibiotics are used in the poultry industry.”

Bacterial drugs have become less effective due to excessive consumption by humans and animals, as bacteria adapt and develop. The more antibiotics are used, the more bacteria can increase their protection.

The study also showed that a third of chicken samples from Lidl, Netto, Real, Aldi and Penny discount supermarkets were infected with bacteria that are resistant to the so-called backup antibiotics, i.e. to drugs of the fourth and fifth generations, which are used as a last resort to fight superbugs - organisms that are resistant to traditional antibiotics.

Experts say that bacteria die when cooked properly, but people can get sick or even die from cross-contamination with raw food in the kitchen, for example, on a cutting board. Industrial poultry workers may also be exposed to germs by inhalation.

According to Germanwatch, the use of antibiotics in poultry farms needs to be drastically reduced, and chicken should be labeled as coming from industrial farms in order to better inform consumers.