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There is a "hidden epidemic" that comes from certain meats we eat that can have serious health consequences: antibiotic resistance. Who launched the alert was the American journalist Maryn McKenna in his book titled "Plucked! The Truth About Chicken," published in 2017.
The book is the result of a search for a author on the use of antibiotics in the food industry, especially chicken production in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Antibiotic resistance occurs when an antibiotic loses its ability to control or kill bacteria. In other words, bacteria become resistant to antibiotic treatment and continue to multiply in our body.
In an excerpt from the book published on the site of the British newspaper "The Guardian", McKenna reveals that it all began with the emergence of "industrialized agriculture" in the 1970s, when large American poultry producers have discovered that antibiotic supplements are accelerating the process of turning these birds into meat for human consumption
. Almost all animals in many parts of the world are bred with daily doses of antibiotics, for a total of 63,151 tons of antibiotics per year. "
As a result, the price of chickens has dropped dramatically in the most consumed type of meat in the US The meat consumption of this bird, in turn, has become the largest emitter of diseases Foodborne and the engine of antibiotic resistance, which McKenna calls "the greatest … health crisis of our time." [19659002] According to data found by the author, antibiotic resistance is responsible for about 700,000 deaths each year on the planet. About 25,000 Europeans, 23,000 Americans and about 63,000 babies in India succumb each year to the epidemic. Antibiotic resistance causes a number of diseases that, by 2050, could cost the global economy about $ 100 billion, including health insurance, lower productivity and lost wages. .
The author estimates that about 80% of antibiotics sold in the United States and, more than half of the rest of the world, are used on animals. "Animals destined to become food drink water and consume food with antibiotics in their food." He adds that "antibiotics are given to animals to gain weight faster or to protect them from disease" that are present in the vulnerable conditions in which they live while "transforming" from animal to meat to human consumption. "Two-thirds of the antibiotics used are also intended to treat diseases that affect humans."
Overall, humans have been eating meat for decades "contaminated" with antibiotics that lose their effect on bacterial protection that infect our bodies. The unrestrained use of antibiotics in this industry has deprived them of their properties in the effective fight against bacteria becoming "resistant" and which naturally have the propensity to defend against the effects of antibiotics.
"Resistance is a defensive adaptation, an evolutionary strategy that allows the bacteria to protect themselves against antibiotics designed to kill them," McKenna concludes, after suggesting that the best way to combat antibiotic resistance is through use. conservative marked by "the right dose,"
How to prevent the ingestion of resistant bacteria
Despite the risk of ingesting meat with resistant bacteria, the DECO you give some tips to protect you from this "hidden epidemic". These are small behaviors that can make all the difference.
Before taking the food you are going to cook, DECO advises you to wash your hands thoroughly. Next, wash foods by removing harmful microorganisms, especially in foods that will be eaten raw, such as fruits and vegetables.
During cooking, keep in mind that most of these microorganisms die at temperatures above 70 ° C. When reusing leftovers, make sure all parts become hot.
Finally, avoid "cross-contamination", that is, one contaminant contaminates another with harmful microorganisms. To do this, simply wash your hands, cooking utensils and cooking surfaces – good hygiene can help a lot.
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