A survey of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) E. coli, Campylobacter and Salmonella on chicken and turkey meat on retail sale in the UK (2022)

The FSA is continuing to commission projects to improve our understanding of the role the food chain plays in the development and spread of AMR bacteria. Our AMR surveillance programme has been established for several years, with a particular focus on retail meats. From 2015 to 2020, FSA had been participating in the EU-harmonised survey on AMR E. coli in retail meats. This survey has generated AMR prevalence data, over several years, in beef, pork and chicken meat collected at retail in the UK. The survey confirmed that chicken, and to a lesser extent, beef and pork can be contaminated with AMR E. coli. Whilst it is no longer mandatory for Great Britain to carry out the EU survey following the UK’s exit from the EU, it is important that we continue with the monitoring of AMR in retail meats and aligning our surveillance to the EU surveys will allow comparison of AMR data. We have therefore commissioned an AMR survey in chicken and turkey meat collected at retail sale in the UK from January to December 2022. This has been identified as a surveillance priority to fill evidence gaps, provide continued monitoring for E. coli and Campylobacter as well as a baseline for Salmonella surveillance in this area.