In addition to measuring chops for presence of levels of certain germs, research also tested present germs for antibiotic-resistance.

August 20, 2018

4 Min Read
Research shows Dakota chops are clean

Source: South Dakota State University Extension iGrow
South Dakota State University is in its second year of participation in the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System, with their Food Safety Microbiology lab (part of the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory in Brookings) working with the retail meat portion of the program. The SD-FSM tests fresh chicken, ground turkey, ground beef and pork chops purchased in grocery stores in North Dakota and South Dakota, for the presence of certain germs. The germs identified are then further tested for resistance to common antibiotics that might be used in treating human illness.

The SD-FSM has recently compiled the NARMS testing results for the June 2017 through May 2018 time period, their first full year of participation. This article summarizes the results for pork chops. Separate reports describe the results from poultry products and ground beef. The NARMS program looks for three different germs in retail pork chops. Salmonella is a significant cause of foodborne illness in the United States, while the other two (generic E. coli and Enterococcus, found more routinely in meat products) are examined as indicator organisms for antibiotic resistance.

During the investigation period (June 2017-May 2018), salmonella was not identified in any of the 120 grocery store samples tested. For E. coli, 36.7% (22 of 60) of the samples were positive, while 51.7% (31 of 60) contained enterococcus. The prevalence of both of these bacteria were higher in pork chops purchased in North Dakota than those from South Dakota for both E. coli (48.0% vs. 28.6%) and enterococcus (60.0% vs. 45.7%).

Since national statistics for the same time period aren’t yet available, it’s not possible to directly compare the Dakotas data with national data. However, information from 2015 — the most recent year available — showed that salmonella levels were also quite low nationally (1.2%). Prevalence rates for the indicator bacteria E. coli were similar between the 2017-18 Dakotas samples and 2015 national averages, while Enterococcus prevalence in pork chops was lower in the Dakotas samples compared to the 2015 national averages (51.7% vs. 81.7%).

Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from pork chops from stores in North Dakota and South Dakota
Isolates (individual growths) of the three germ species were submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for antimicrobial resistance testing. Data isn’t available yet for the time period of June 2017-May 2018; however, the resistance of germs found in pork chops during the period of February 2017 through May 2017 can be found in a table found with the full article by clicking here.

During this time period, none of the pork chop samples tested positive for salmonella.

For the indicator organisms E. coli and enterococcus, the action of 14 and 16 antibiotics respectively, is measured. A germ isolate is classified as “Multi-Drug Resistant” if it is resistant to three or more different classes of antimicrobials. During the February-to-May 2017 time period, 15 E. coli isolates were obtained from pork chops, with four of them being MDR. Almost half (7 of 15) of these isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobials they were tested against. The drugs against which E. coli resistant strains were more commonly found included tetracycline, streptomycin and ampicillin (26.7% of isolates resistant for each drug).

Fifteen enterococcus isolates were obtained from pork chops during the same time period, with four of them MDR isolates. Every one (100.0%) of the 15 isolates was resistant to lincomycin, and 93.3% (14 of 15) of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline.

Summary
South Dakota State University’s involvement with NARMS is off to a successful start. This year’s work has produced new information about the prevalence of potentially illness-causing germs in pork chops and other meat products in North Dakota and South Dakota. This year’s data indicate that salmonella in pork chops is extremely uncommon in the Dakotas, with no detections during the investigation period in either state. Comparing this 2017-2018 data with contemporary national data (once it’s available) will provide even better information regarding food safety in the Dakotas.

The project is also measuring levels of antibiotic resistance in those germs and certain indicator germs. As changes occur in the use of antibiotics in pork production, monitoring germ resistance to antibiotics will become important to determine the effect, if any, of shifts and declines in antibiotic use in pork production.

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