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Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
New research due to be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) reveals that raw-type dog foods contain high levels of multidrug-resistant bacteria, including those resistant to last-line antibiotics. The potential transfer of such bacteria between dogs and humans is an international public health risk, conclude the authors who include Dr. Ana Raquel Freitas and colleagues from the Faculty of Pharmacy, UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, University of Porto, Portugal.
[...] Raw-food-based diets for dogs have grown popularity recently as a healthier choice. Increasing controversy regarding their safety is emerging, with some scientific evidence showing their role as vehicles for transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In addition, dogs have been described as reservoirs of clinically-relevant ampicillin-resistant (AmpR) Enterococcus faecium, but the source remains unknown.
In this study, the authors analysed enterococci obtained from processed (both dry and wet types) and non-processed (raw-frozen) foods of the main brands commercialised in Portugal. The study included 46 samples (22 wet, 15 dry, 9 raw-frozen) from 24 international brands, sourced from 8 supermarkets and one veterinary clinic. Samples were obtained during September to November, 2019. Raw-frozen samples were mainly constituted of salmon, chicken, turkey, calf, deer or duck, being a mixture of different meat types, fruits and vegetables.
[...] The authors conclude: "Our study demonstrates that raw-frozen-foods for dogs carry MDR enterococci including to last-line antibiotics (linezolid) for the treatment of human infections. The close contact of pets with humans and the commercialisation of the studied brands in different EU countries pose an international public health risk if transmission of such strains occurs between dogs and humans. There is strong past and recent evidence that dogs and humans share common multidrug-resistant strains of E. faecium, and thus the potential for these strains to be transmitted to humans from dogs."
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 21 2020, @08:40PM (9 children)
I think the biggest reason to not routinely irradiate meat (besides extra cost) is that you would be adding a radiation exposure hazard to the workers and possibly consumers and environment that is completely unnecessary; you know that accidents will happen. Solution: Just cook your damn food. It's been a solved problem since Homo sapiens discovered fire.
As an aside, I can think of one food where irradiation is routine and warranted: peppercorns. Your peppercorns have been blasted with radiation to kill the pests that would otherwise hatch inside and eat the stored peppercorns.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by PartTimeZombie on Tuesday April 21 2020, @09:03PM (2 children)
Hang on, hang on. Have you guys been messing about with fire? Fire hot! Ow!
Leave the fire alone. Just stay in the trees.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Wednesday April 22 2020, @12:17AM (1 child)
Yeah, but what about the Hetero sapiens?
(Score: 3, Funny) by ze on Wednesday April 22 2020, @01:29AM
We killed them all :(
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday April 22 2020, @04:12AM (5 children)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 22 2020, @02:22PM (4 children)
Do you not cook any of your food?
Do you only eat out, reheat prepared frozen meals in the microwave, or eat only salads augmented with canned legumes?
Does the stove scare you?
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday April 22 2020, @02:43PM (3 children)
Do you ever bother to think? The kitchen too is a hazardous place with plenty of opportunities for cuts, burns, and illnesses. Why be concerned about a minor hazard to a few people, but not a similar hazard to a much larger group of people?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 22 2020, @04:29PM (2 children)
I get your point. You don't work in a meat packing plant, so you are OK with adding a new hazard that will never affect you -- only someone ELSE.
I think you are drastically overstating the hazards of cooking. Can minor injuries happen? Sure, rarely. I would say cooking is safer than bicycling, but you don't see people discouraging that.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday April 23 2020, @02:47AM
That is true.
I don't. And I think you're exaggerated the hazards of radiating food.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday April 23 2020, @07:58PM