Imported Chicken Raises Alarms with Drug-Resistant Salmonella Findings
Swiss scientists have detected multidrug-resistant Salmonella Infantis in imported chicken meat, prompting calls for stricter food safety measures.
A Silent Contaminant in Imported Poultry
A recent investigation in Switzerland has uncovered a worrying food safety issue: Salmonella Infantis has been found in several samples of imported chicken meat. Conducted between May and July 2024, the study involved testing 200 chicken products from Swiss retail stores—both chilled and frozen. While domestically produced meat showed no contamination, six samples of imported chicken tested positive for this dangerous bacterium.
Tracing the Source
The contaminated products came from Hungary, Slovenia, and Austria. Notably, most of these samples were chilled and skinless, though one frozen, skin-on product from Slovenia also tested positive. The affected cuts included chicken breasts and sliced meats, indicating the contamination isn’t isolated to one specific product type.
A Red Flag for Food Safety
Statistical analysis revealed a strong link between contamination and products that were both imported and unlabeled. Scientists say this points to a potential systemic issue in how such products are monitored and labeled, emphasizing the need for improved transparency and oversight.
Resistance That Complicates Treatment
More concerning than the presence of Salmonella itself is its resistance to multiple antibiotics. All six detected strains were multidrug-resistant and showed reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin—a key treatment option for Salmonella infections. This resistance amplifies the public health risk, making infections harder to treat and control.
Swiss Poultry Remains Clean—for Now
Interestingly, the bacterium hasn’t been detected in domestic Swiss poultry. Surveillance data from 2023 confirms that Salmonella Infantis was absent in local broiler and breeding flocks. This further strengthens the case that the contamination is being imported rather than originating within Swiss borders.
What Needs to Change
Experts warn that tackling this problem will require a multi-faceted approach. Recommendations include:
Improving hygiene across the supply chain
Intensifying checks on imported meat
Educating consumers about food handling and origin labeling
Implementing stricter controls globally to combat antimicrobial resistance
In short, imported poultry may come with hidden risks—and without intervention, those risks could spread far beyond the grocery aisle.
Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/05/scientists-find-salmonella-in-imported-chicken-meat/