Schorndorf shaken: sabotage on dairy farm! Penicillin in milk!

Schorndorf shaken: sabotage on dairy farm! Penicillin in milk!

In Schorndorf, a tranquil town in the Cham district, a dastardly incident has shaken local agriculture. An unknown person contaminated the milk of a farm with penicillin. The 47-year-old farmer who runs the business reported that her milk was significantly contaminated when it was checked by the responsible dairy. What initially began as a routine check quickly turned out to be an alarming result. A rapid diagnostic test initially gave a negative result, only to reveal a nasty surprise during a later examination. The police estimate the damage at around 8,000 euros, which not only causes a financial loss but also affects confidence in product safety. Investigations into property damage and trespassing are in full swing, and the authorities are desperately looking for witnesses who can provide information about the perpetrator. [stern.de].

The controversies surrounding the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry have been stirring minds for years. In Germany, the use of antibiotics in animals has been closely monitored since 2011. The Antibiotic Resistance Working Group of the BVL and BfR recently published the “Situation Report 2024”, which summarizes data from 2021 and 2022. Since this introduction, the dispensing quantities of antibacterial veterinary medicines have been reduced by a remarkable 68.4%. This shows that a rethink is already taking place in many companies. In particular, the delivery quantities of critical classes of antibiotics have fallen, such as cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. The frequency of therapy for fattening pigs and piglets also shows a positive trend. This gives hope that the responsible use of antibiotics will be adopted in agriculture to ensure the health and safety of food. Details can be found in bmleh.de.

The consequences for agriculture

The contamination in Schorndorf highlights the risks farmers face. The unauthorized manipulation of food is not only a serious violation of the law, but also a massive intervention in the production chain. The new legislation on the use of antibiotics, enshrined in the Veterinary Medicines Act 2022, aims to minimize the supply of antibiotics and reduce health risks. Despite the progress made in the industry, this incident shows that there is still much work to be done to protect the safety of our food.

Farmers are under pressure to keep their products safe while ensuring the health of their animals. In the global discussion about antibiotic-resistant germs, every contamination is a step back on the path to sustainable agriculture. The goal must be not only to reduce the use of antibiotics, but also to raise overall awareness of the quality of food. The community and consumers are required to actively address these issues to promote positive change in food production.

This incident shocked us all. The police are hoping for information from the public in order to catch the perpetrator and prevent further such incidents. Every tip counts – the safety of our food is in everyone’s hands.