Exposure assessment to cephalosporin resistant E. coli through consumption of broiler meat

The acquired resistance of E. coli to cephalosporin antimicrobial drugs is becoming a major issue in intensive broiler farming. In Belgium, about 36% of the E. coli strains isolated from live poultry are resistant to cephalosporin antimicrobial drugs while 60% of the broilers are carrier of these cefalosporin resistant E. coli. 
The risk of consuming chicken meat contaminated with cephalosporin resistant E. coli consists mainly of the possible transfer of resistance genes to other, potential pathogenic bacteria present in the human intestinal tract. Indeed, cephalosporin resistant E. coli strains from poultry only exceptionally cause infections in humans. 
Therefore, from a food safety point of view, the Scientific Committee wants to gain insight into the degree of exposure of people to cephalosporin resistant E. coli through consumption of chicken meat. For this purpose a quantitative model aimed at estimating the exposure of the consumer to cephalosporin resistant E. coli by consumption of Belgian chicken meat was elaborated. The model consists of different modules that simulate the farm to fork chain starting from primary production, over slaughter, processing and distribution to storage, preparation and consumption of chicken meat.