Antimicrobial Resistance: A Food Safety Concern
6 July 2023 - The International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) today released its latest Scientific Information Bulletin (SIB) on Antimicrobial Resistance: A Food Safety Concern from the global food science and technology community represented by more than 300,000 food scientists, technologists, engineers and related social scientists worldwide working with IUFoST. These bulletins (SIBs) provide scientifically-based information on key topics of interest for all sectors of society.
“Antimicrobial agents transform and extend lives. They prevent death and disability from infection. They play a vital role in the welfare of animals, including food producing animals and companion animals. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has impacted on every day clinical practice for many years. AMR makes it more difficult and more costly to prevent and treat infection. These difficulties are increasing rapidly. AMR is recognized as a major global challenge for public health and for sustainability. We understand why AMR is happening. We understand what is required to respond. It is clear that a “One Health” approach is needed to deliver the sustained and coherent global action required. Reducing antimicrobial use and slowing the spread of AMR organisms in all sectors will mitigate AMR. New antimicrobial agents and new approaches to prevention and treatment of infection are required to adapt to AMR. The response to the challenge, to date, has been more effective in some countries than in others. Building the global consensus to act remains challenging, leading to the description of AMR as a “super-wicked problem”.
To read and download the Scientific Information Bulletin on Antimicrobial Resistance: A Food Safety Concern, click on this link in the IUFoST website here .
Antimicrobial Resistance: A Food Safety Concern was prepared by Prof. Martin Cormican, Established Professor of Bacteriology, University of Galway, Ireland and former National Clinical Lead for HCAI and AMR, University of Galway, and Prof. Dearbháile Morris, Professor of Antimicrobial Resistance and One Health, School of Medicine, University of Galway.
Prof. Martin Cormican graduated from NUI Galway Medical School in 1986. He trained in Ireland (Galway), UK and USA (University of Iowa). He is director of the GUH National Microbiology Reference Laboratory services which include services for Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae. He is former National Clinical Lead for HCAI and AMR. His research interests include antibiotic resistance and food borne infection. He is director of the Centre for One Health at University of Galway and Chair of the Scientific Committee of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Prof. Dearbhaile Morris, graduated from DCU with a B.SC. in Biotechnology in 1997 and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Bacteriology at University of Galway in 2002. Dearbháile is Professor of Antimicrobial Resistance and One Health at the School of Medicine, University of Galway. Dearbháile established the Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group in 2010 and her research group works closely with national and international research groups focusing on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and epidemiology, food and water borne pathogens and other contaminants, the wider societal impact of infection, One Health and Astro-microbiology. Affiliation: Centre for One Health and School of Medicine, University of Galway, Ireland.
This SIB was prepared by Prof. Cormican and Professor Morris on behalf of, and approved by, the IUFoST Scientific Council. This and the other titles in the series of IUFoST Scientific Information Bulletins are available online at: https://iufost.org/scientific-council/iufost-scientific-information-bulletins-sibs.
