RUMA Alliance, which promotes responsible use of medicines in farm animals, has strongly criticised a press release issued by health diagnostics company Randox Health, in which it announced tests on Aintree Racecourse’s meat for antibiotic residues.
In its press release, Randox Health, which sponsors the Grand National race, noted that “with concerns about antibiotic resistance growing amongst shoppers in 2017,” it had decided to raise awareness by testing the food it served to Grand National for traces of antibiotics.
It went on to add that “scientists warn that excessive use of antibiotics in healthy farm animals is contributing to the rise of infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as superbugs”. It also highlighted that it was “working closely with the industry to promote a responsible approach to antibiotic-use in farm animals”.
Randox Health’s statements have been strongly contested by RUMA Alliance, which accused the company of “inaccuracies, misrepresentation,” as well as the “potential to cause confusion”.
The organisation claimed that the firm “has failed to acknowledge that all use of antibiotics in farm animals in the UK is strictly regulated, with withdrawal periods observed to avoid presence in meat, milk and other products from food-producing animals”.
RUMA also accused Randox Health of confusing “residue testing with the separate issue of antibiotic resistance,” providing “incorrect information on antibiotic use in food-producing animals, which is, in fact, reducing rapidly in the UK”.
RUMA secretary general John FitzGerald added: “Regarding the altogether different issue of antibiotic resistance, its relationship to the testing of the meat for residues is bewildering.”
In its response to Meat Management, Randox Health highlighted: "Though RUMA rightly underlines this is a complex area, those with responsibilities in this area should not shy from addressing it.
"There is a clear and demonstrable link between antibiotic-residue and antibiotic-resistance, underlined by the industry guidelines on withdrawal periods to prevent antibiotic-residues entering the food market.
“RFD supports the standard that all food in the UK should be antibiotic-free. Through RFD’s revolutionary drug residue screening technology, food producers are being supported to ensure they meet their legal requirements.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.