March 23, 2023

Kenyan study finds pork and poultry sold in supermarkets are contaminated

A study by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kmeri), World Animal Protection, and Centre for Microbiology Research, has found that raw pork and poultry meat sold in supermarkets in Kenya is contaminated, The Standard reported.

The study suggests there could be a high risk of food safety concerns from chicken meat and pork sold in both local and international supermarkets in Kenya.

The study also found that Antimicrobial Resistant (AMR) pathogens are on the rise in Kenya, becoming a new public health concern.

Although the researchers did not establish the source of microbial contamination, they called for retailing outlets to adhere to hygienic principles when handling and processing pork and chicken meat products to reduce the potential risk of microbial contamination.

The study revealed that resistance to essential classes of antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones, is not high, but analysis of similar data showed that resistance might be increasing over time.

The study also noted a high prevalence of bacteria often considered parasitic, such as E. coli, klebsiella, and foodborne pathogens like salmonella and staphylococcus.

The contamination could be through extensive use of antibiotics for prevention and growth promotion in chickens and swine, which has been a major factor in the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria with zoonotic potential.

-      The Standard