A new report has highlighted significant gaps in how UK supermarkets address antibiotic use in farming.
- Recent regulations limit the use of antibiotics in farming, excluding British farmers from EU rules.
- The report by the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics outlines supermarkets’ shortcomings in policy adherence.
- Marks & Spencer leads the rankings, but overall transparency on antibiotic use remains inadequate.
- Iceland disputes findings, citing adherence to policy and restriction of critical antibiotics.
In a revealing new report, UK supermarkets have been found lacking in their efforts to regulate the responsible use of antibiotics by suppliers. The investigation highlights the failure of many supermarkets to implement comprehensive policies that align with the latest UK regulations.
These regulations, introduced earlier this year, aim to curb the misuse of antibiotics in farming, as British farmers now operate outside EU regulations. The law specifically prohibits the use of antibiotics to mask poor animal husbandry or hygiene practices.
The research, conducted by the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics, assessed supermarkets based on their commitment to reducing antibiotic use. Key criteria included having clear targets and necessary policies to ensure antibiotics are used solely when required. Despite these measures, most supermarkets only apply these policies to their own-brand products.
A notable gap identified by the report is the lack of transparency, with no supermarkets providing complete data on antibiotic usage by individual farm suppliers. Marks & Spencer was highlighted as performing best, earning ten out of twelve green ratings, yet there is still room for improvement, particularly in providing full information about antibiotic practices.
In contrast, Tesco and Waitrose ranked closely behind but similarly faltered in offering detailed disclosures. Other major chains like Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Co-op, and Iceland were also scrutinised. Iceland, however, challenged the report’s conclusions, arguing that their policies are communicated directly to suppliers and stressing their stringent restrictions on critical antibiotics like colistin.
Cóilín Nunan, Policy and Science Manager at ASOA, underscored the global context, stating: “Globally, it is estimated that about two-thirds of all antibiotics are used in farm animals. Yet supermarkets are often not checking whether imported food they are selling has been produced with routine antibiotic use.”
He pointed out that this creates an uneven playing field for UK farmers, who adhere to higher standards, and poses a risk to consumer health.
The findings underscore the urgent need for improved transparency and policy adherence among UK supermarkets to safeguard consumer health and support ethical farming practices.
