Fears as food safety chiefs reveal 1 in 10 salmon fillets sold at major supermarkets found to contain killer food poisoning bug – some resistant to antibiotics

Food safety officials have issued an urgent warning over an alarming surge in two potentially deadly bacteria found in salmon and meat sold at major UK supermarkets which are resistant to antibiotics.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revealed that 36 raw, chilled, and pre-packed farmed salmon fillets were found to be contaminated with listeria in 2024.

The nasty bug—which can kill—usually causes a fever, sickness and diarrhoea.

Listeriosis is not usually serious, but people with weakened immune systems can become seriously ill from the infection, requiring antibiotics.

The study also revealed that two of the listeria strains from the sampled salmon had genetic similarities to strains linked to human infections in 2020 and 2023.

Additional data revealed that all tested strains detected in raw salmon samples showed potential resistance to a disinfectant commonly used in the food industry—called benzalkonium chloride.

Low levels of E.coli was also identified in 108 of the salmon fillets sampled.

Whilst most E.coli are harmless, some can cause diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and even sepsis.

An investigation by food safety experts identified antimicrobial resistant bacteria to be present in salmon, chicken and turkey samples from major UK supermarkets

Symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli include severe diarrhoea and vomiting, according to the UK Health Security Agency

In a second study, researchers collected samples from 300 chicken and 300 turkey fresh retail meat samples

Infection with Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC)—a rare strain of the diarrhoea causing bug—can cause haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.

Worryingly, researchers found that four of the strains were resistant to ampicillin—a common antibiotic used to manage and treat bacterial infections such as E.coli and listeriosis.

These bacteria have gradually evolved to become resistant to antibiotics, as a result of the drugs being overprescribed or incorrectly used.

Health authorities continue to fear a ‘post-antibiotic’ era where common conditions and medical operations become more deadly and dangerous as patients succumb to previously treatable bugs.

However, the FSA noted that none of the samples contained highly resistant strains, meaning the chance of someone getting an antibiotic-resistant strain of the infection from salmon is extremely low.

In another study, researchers tested 300 chicken and turkey samples, from Northern Island for E.coli producing enzymes.

Results showed that around 12 per cent of the samples contained germs that can break down some antibiotics, including ampicillin and cefotaxime—commonly used to treat pneumonia—though none were resistant to critical last-resort treatments.

In response to its findings, the FSA said: ‘The risk of acquiring antimicrobial resistant related infections through the handling and consumption of retail contaminated meats is very low with proper food handling and cooking practices.’

Those who eat food containing listeria develop an infection called listeriosis, which can cause a fever, aches and pains, chills, nausea, sickness and diarrhoea

This graph shows the combined direct and associated deaths from antibiotic-resistant bacteria per global region measured in the new research

WHAT IS ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE?

Antibiotics have been doled out unnecessarily by GPs and hospital staff for decades, fueling once harmless bacteria to become superbugs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously warned if nothing is done the world is heading for a ‘post-antibiotic’ era.

It claimed common infections, such as chlamydia, will become killers without immediate solutions to the growing crisis.

Bacteria can become drug resistant when people take incorrect doses of antibiotics or if they are given out unnecessarily.

Former chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies claimed in 2016 that the threat of antibiotic resistance is as severe as terrorism.

Figures estimate that superbugs will kill 10 million people each year by 2050, with patients succumbing to once harmless bugs.

Around 700,000 people already die yearly due to drug-resistant infections including tuberculosis (TB), HIV and malaria across the world.

Concerns have repeatedly been raised that medicine will be taken back to the ‘dark ages’ if antibiotics are rendered ineffective in the coming years.

Without antibiotics, C-sections, cancer treatments and hip replacements will become incredibly ‘risky’, it was said at the time.

The findings come following an outbreak of listeria across Europe that has been linked to a soft cheese supplied by a French manufacturer.

Whilst France has seen the highest number of cases, after 21 people became seriously unwell resulting in two deaths, European health officials have warned the disease could have spread to the UK.

The majority of these cases have occurred since June this year.

Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium listeria monocytogenes.

Produce contaminated with the bacterium may not look or smell spoiled, but can still cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.

As such, the ECDC advises anyone who has eaten potentially contaminated produce, such as cheese, salmon, chicken or turkey and developed symptoms to contact their GP and tell them about the possible listeria exposure.

According to the latest UKHSA data, a total of 179 cases of listeriosis were reported in England and Wales in 2024.

Some 28 deaths were recorded, among non-pregnancy associated cases, of which 9 had listeriosis recorded as a cause of death on the death certificate.

In England, London has the highest levels of infection.

Seven outbreaks in total were investigated including a national wave linked to various food products including smoked fish, chocolate and strawberry mousse and pre-packed sandwiches.

Meanwhile in the US, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that around 1,600 people get listeriosis each year.