Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in NZ’s wild cockles and watercress put people at growing risk of serious illness

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 11:46:58 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-in-nzs-wild-cockles-and-watercress-put-people-at-growing-risk-of-serious-illness-209845>

"Traditional harvesting sites, or mahinga kai, continue to be used throughout
New Zealand to provide food and to share skills and cultural practices between
families and generations.

But our new research shows that wild foods concentrate antibiotic-resistant
bacteria and could put people at risk.

While water is regularly tested at recreational sites for potential pathogens,
wild-harvested foods are commonly overlooked as a source of exposure to
antibiotic-resistant microbes.

Wild foods are important to all cultures in Aotearoa. Both aquatic and
terrestrial mahinga kai sites provide opportunities for recreation and social
bonding. Entire regions may come to rely more heavily on wild foods during
disasters that disrupt supply chains.

But there are no guidelines for people who harvest wild foods to inform them
about the risk of antibiotic resistance. This needs to change.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria make gastrointestinal infections from eating wild
foods or contact infections acquired during harvest or food preparation more
difficult, even impossible, to treat."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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