A campaign group has claimed some chicken meat sold by Lidl is contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other pathogens. A total of 142 own-brand products from 22 Lidl stores in Germany, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, and Poland were tested by a laboratory in Germany. The products need to be cooked before consumption and should not be consumed raw.
Previous advice from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) was that the risk of getting infected through eating or preparing contaminated meat remains low as long as people follow good hygiene and cooking practices. The study was commissioned by the Albert Schweitzer Foundation, Animal Welfare Observatory, Essere Animali, Open Cages, the Fundacja Alberta Schweitzera, and Otwarte Klatki. The Albert Schweitzer Foundation campaigns against factory farming and for a vegan lifestyle.
European results All samples were purchased between December 2023 and March 2024 and the cold chain was monitored and maintained, according to the Albert Schweitzer Foundation. In each of Germany, Spain, and Italy, 24 products were tested. In the UK, 40 were tested and 30 in Poland.
Salmonella was found in 9 percent of the samples. Two of these came from Poland and 11 from Italy. No information was shared on the level of contamination or at what stage of a products’ shelf life tests were conducted.
Listeria was detected in a third of all samples and six from Germany. In Italy, 13 samples were positive. Campylobacter was found in every second sample fro.
