Are you aware of the health dangers lurking in the pork you buy from the supermarket? With an increasing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it’s time to consider the impact of our pork consumption on our health.
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: A Growing Crisis
It is well established that supermarket meat, including pork, can harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria and must be handled with care during food preparation. Such antibiotic resistance has partially arisen from the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, creating a potential public health disaster.
However, the way pigs are raised on industrial farms has drastically increased the spread of these pathogens.
Pork and other meats require thorough cleaning of cutting boards and surfaces after use, and the meat must be cooked completely to eradicate infectious microbes.
Carrying Bacteria Home
Industrial farm workers play a significant part in spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A study revealed that at least half of pig farm workers unknowingly carried the microbes in their noses for up to four days after leaving the farm.
At the beginning of the study, researchers believed the bacteria would clear out of the workers’ noses rapidly. However, the analysis showed that the bacteria persisted much longer than anticipated.
The bacteria found, Staphylococcus aureus, were antibiotic-resistant, likely originating from the antibiotics given to sick pigs and medications used to promote faster growth in hogs. The longer the bacteria live in farm workers, the more likely they are to spread to the workers’ families, the local community, and ultimately to hospital patients who are more susceptible to infection.
Hog Farms and MRSA
European hog farms have managed to create new versions of resistant bacteria called MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria has been found in the children of pig farm workers. Consequently, several European countries have banned the use of antibiotics for promoting rapid growth and increased body fat in animals.
A Problem of Size and Profit
With almost 300,000 people working with livestock in the U.S., this issue is unlikely to remain small. Close to 6,400 workers are employed at 938 hog farms in North Carolina alone.
Most of the Staphylococcus (staph) bacteria we encounter are relatively harmless and present in our bodies without causing any issues. However, if a staph infection becomes resistant to antibiotics, it can pose a significant threat to our lives.
So, what can you do to reduce the risk? Seek out organic meat and avoid eating meat from animals that have been treated with antibiotics. It is essential to remember that unhealthy animals lead to unhealthy meat, which adversely affects our health.
