Grocery, SV | Concerned about imported meat:

– Without antibiotics I wouldn’t be here today. But thanks to antibiotics, I am now able to walk, speak and write again, says, who is the spokesperson for health policies in SV and parliamentary representative of SV in Akershus.

In May 2018, he was poisoned with blood, had several strokes, and ended up in a coma. As a result, he ended up in a wheelchair and lost his language, and had to learn everything all over again.

For Wilkinson, it would have been critical if the antibiotics didn’t work when he fell ill two years ago. The more antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotics we humans receive, the greater the chance of developing antibiotic resistance, the researchers believe.

Recently, Nettavisen has focused on Norwegian meat versus foreign meat, including the fact that more people are competing against poor labeling of imported meat. This weekend, however, we wrote about the consequences researchers believe imported meat may have.

Although the use of antibiotics to raise larger animals, thus providing more meat, is not allowed, the animals still ingest antibiotics in the treatment of diseases. Figures from Animalia show, however, that there are large differences in the amount of antibiotics that Norwegian domestic animals ingest compared to domestic animals in many other European countries. This can lead to antibiotic resistant bacteria in the meat.

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– Very worried

Ørjan Olsvik, professor of medical microbiology at the University of Tromsø, Arctic University of Norway, has done a lot of research on antibiotic resistance. When Nettavisen spoke to him last week, he explained that antibiotic-resistant bacteria can remain when animals have received antibiotics through food due to illness. These bacteria can remain in the meat we eat.

– There is no doubt that antibiotic resistant bacteria in meat can provide antibiotic resistance to humans. At worst, we can’t treat sepsis (blood poisoning) or pneumonia, for example, he said.

Wilkinson in SV fears that antibiotic resistance will develop in humans.

– I’m very concerned about antibiotic resistance, and that all the people who need antibiotic treatment to recover are not getting help, he says.

– We know that antibiotic resistance is increasing around the world. Although Norway has reduced the use of antibiotics, resistance abroad is increasing, in part because antibiotics are mainly administered to animals. This means that we too are exposed, among other things through travel, he says.

Norwegian Health Informatics and Helsenorge have also written about the fact that you can ingest antibiotic-resistant bacteria while traveling.

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He takes it to the Storting

Wilkinson thinks it would be best to stop importing meat, as figures show that foreign animals have ingested more antibiotics than Norwegians. He points out that due to EEA regulations this is not possible, but then we must make the most of the situation.

– I think we should better label the meat and show on the container the amount of antibiotic used in feeding the animal where the meat comes from. So I hope people will look at it and choose Norwegian meat, he says.

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Wilkinson says that on behalf of SV he will submit a proposal to the Storting for better labeling. The Center Party wants to do this this fall too.

– We will present two proposals. One is to label the amount of antibiotics and the other is to get different packaging for Norwegian and imported meat, SP politician Geir Pollestad tells Nettavisen.

– Most people don’t notice a difference between eating Norwegian or German meat for Friday’s taco, but if you have pneumonia, you notice if the antibiotic works or not, continue.

Feel free to give your opinion in the survey before reading further, the article continues below.

– Protects the interests of consumers

The online newspaper has contacted the press officer of the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Olaug Bollestad (Krf), to hear her comments on her opinion on the labeling of imported meat.

– I believe that the current regulations safeguard the interests of consumers in a good way, he replies.

– I am concerned that we have good consumer information and good food labeling systems. Through the EEA agreement, we are required to have the same brand regulations as the EU. The label should provide the information necessary for consumers to make the best possible decision, Bollestad says.

It adds that it is required to mark the origin of pre-packaged fresh, refrigerated and frozen pork, sheep, goat and poultry meat and meat. This also applies to minced and minced meat.

As a general rule, both the place of breeding and the place of slaughter of the animal should be indicated, and beef should also indicate the place of birth of the animal, according to Bollestad. The information must be placed in a conspicuous place on the package and be clearly visible. The rules apply to both Norwegian-produced and imported meat.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority oversees that food sold in Norway is labeled as required by regulations.

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– Important quality

At the same time, Bollestad believes that we should be proud that Norwegian animals do not receive enough antibiotics.

– It is an important quality of Norwegian agriculture that consumers should be aware of when buying food, he says.

Bollestad notes, however, that imported meat must meet the same food safety requirements as meat produced in Norway.

– There should be no antibiotic residues, regardless of their origin, he says.

Bollestad adds that it is also important for consumers to have good kitchen hygiene and proper heat treatment of all meat, to avoid being exposed to any unwanted bacteria that may be found in raw meat.