UK supermarkets face criticism for not ensuring responsible antibiotic use by their suppliers, according to a recent report.
- A new set of regulations was introduced in the UK this year, focusing on responsible antibiotic use in farming.
- An investigation by the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics reveals significant gaps in supermarkets’ adherence to these regulations.
- Marks & Spencer excelled in the evaluation, while Tesco and Waitrose did not fully disclose antibiotic use information.
- Iceland disputes the report’s findings, claiming compliance with UK and EU antibiotic usage standards.
UK supermarkets have come under scrutiny for their efforts in ensuring responsible antibiotic usage among their suppliers. A recent report by the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics highlights that many supermarkets are falling short in enforcing new UK regulations designed to reduce antibiotic use in farming. These regulations stress that antibiotics should not be used to make up for inadequate animal husbandry or poor hygiene practices.
The investigation assessed multiple UK supermarkets, using a checklist to determine compliance with the regulations. This checklist included criteria such as the presence of targets to reduce antibiotic use and policies to ensure antibiotics are only used when necessary. Despite the importance of these regulations, the report reveals that the policies of most supermarkets only apply to their own-brand products, and none have fully disclosed data about antibiotic use by individual farm suppliers.
Marks & Spencer was commended, receiving ten green ticks out of a possible twelve, reflecting good practice in line with the new standards. However, Tesco and Waitrose, joint second in the rankings, were criticised for not providing complete information regarding their antibiotic use practices. Other supermarkets evaluated included Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Co-op, and Iceland.
Iceland’s response to the report was defensive, with a spokesperson arguing that their policies are closely communicated directly to suppliers rather than being made public. Iceland also emphasised its restriction on the use of critically important antibiotics and adherence to both UK and EU guidelines. Cóilín Nunan, ASOA’s policy and science manager, stated that the widespread use of antibiotics in farming poses a significant threat to consumer health and that UK supermarkets should ensure imported foods meet the same standards as domestic products.
The report underscores the need for stringent enforcement of antibiotic use policies in UK supermarkets to safeguard consumer health.
