A recent report highlighted concerns regarding UK supermarkets and their approach to antibiotic use in farming.
- The report by the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics (ASOA) indicates significant gaps in adherence to new UK regulations.
- Many supermarkets have not extended antibiotic policies to all products beyond their own-brand lines.
- Marks & Spencer emerged as a leader, yet full transparency remains lacking even among top-ranked retailers.
- The findings raise concerns about consumer safety, particularly with imported foods.
The Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics (ASOA) has conducted an illuminating study on the state of antibiotic use among UK supermarkets. This examination comes on the heels of new UK regulations aimed at limiting antibiotic use in farming, stepping away from previous EU governance. The regulations are explicit in disallowing antibiotics as a substitute for poor animal husbandry or hygiene practices.
The ASOA report exposes considerable deficiencies in regulatory compliance across the UK’s top grocery retailers. Despite the clear legal guidelines, the research suggests that many supermarkets have not effectively implemented comprehensive antibiotic usage policies. Importantly, the majority of these policies only apply to own-brand products, failing to cover the full spectrum of goods available in their stores.
The current report ranks supermarkets based on a set of criteria focused on antibiotic use transparency and reduction targets. Marks & Spencer, for example, stands out with commendable practices, though even they fall short of complete disclosure. Tesco and Waitrose tie for second, yet neither provides full data on antibiotic usage at the supplier level.
An underlying issue revealed by the report is the transparency of antibiotic use in imported products. Supermarkets have been found wanting in verifying whether imported goods conform to antibiotic use standards, placing UK farmers at an unfair disadvantage and potentially jeopardising consumer health.
The report’s findings are disputed by some supermarkets. For instance, Iceland asserts that its practices align with UK and EU policies, despite not publishing detailed data publicly. ASOA’s policy manager, Cóilín Nunan, expressed concerns, pointing out, “Globally, it is estimated that about two-thirds of all antibiotics are used in farm animals,” noting the absence of stringent checks on imports.
This report underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement and transparency in antibiotic use policies among UK supermarkets to protect consumer health.
