The results of Consumer Reports' first laboratory analysis of apopular alternative to hamburger meat may turn more than a fewstomachs across America.

The consumer advocacy group found potentially dangerousantibiotic-resistant bacteria in the majority of the 257 samples ofground turkey it recently tested. The samples were taken from 27different brands and stores across 21 states. While 90 percent ofthe ground turkey samples contained one or more types ofantibiotic-resistant, disease-causing organisms, more than halfalso tested positive for fecal bacteria.

“Some bacteria that end up on ground turkey, including E. coliand staph aureus, can cause not only food poisoning but alsourinary, bloodstream, and other infections,” Consumer Reports saidin a prepared statement.”

This raises alarm about what is lining the shelves of U.S.grocery stores. It also suggests a direct relationship between theuse of antibiotics in animal production and increased resistance inbacteria on ground turkey, Consumer Reports adds.

Like other livestock in the United States, turkeys are subjectedto recurrent low doses of antibiotics in an effort to optimizeanimal health while promoting growth. Mounting scientific evidencein recent years has pointed to a correlation between thiswidespread use of drugs in animals that are not sickand accelerating antibiotic resistance.

Threats To Public Health

The National Turkey Federation seems to disagree. The non-profitorganization calls Consumer Reports' findings—and theinferences thereof—both “misleading” and “sensationalized.” Itasserts the sampling was “very small” and thus representative of ananomaly, not a pattern of compromised food safety.

“There is more than one way [harmful bacteria] can wind up onfood animals,” says Lisa Picard, National Turkey Federation vicepresident. “Studies have shown that generic E.coli and MRSA caneven be found on about 20 percent of computer keyboards.”

The issue of consumer safety as it relates to foodborne illness is neither new nor confined to raw groundturkey. In its own sampling completed in 2011, the U.S. Food andDrug Administration found widespread contamination in ground beef,turkey, pork chops and chicken. The collected specimenscontained antibiotic-resistant E coli, salmonella, and otherharmful bacteria.

Because foodborne illness usually affects multiple people inmultiple areas, it raises interesting liability questions forinsurers. The forthcoming “Claims Queue” column in Claims'June issue will examine further developments as they pertainto Consumer Reports' findings, alongwith the liability implications for P&C insurers, sostay tuned!

The complete report and analysis is in the June 2013 print issueof Consumer Reports, as well as online.