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Superbugs Found in UK Turkeys: Christmas Dinner Alert!
18 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Two drug-resistant superbugs found in British turkeys for first time.
- These resistant strains can cause serious food poisoning in humans.
- Thorough cooking is advised to prevent illness this festive season.
Concerns are rising for Christmas dinner preparations as two strains of drug-resistant superbugs have been identified in British turkeys. This marks the first detection of such pathogens in the nation's turkeys, raising public health alarms.
The discovered superbugs include Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) and a strain of Colistin-resistant E. coli. According to the Food Standards Agency, these bacteria can infect humans if food is not cooked properly, leading to significant food poisoning.
Officials are advising the public to exercise extreme caution with food storage and cooking methods during the festive period. They strongly recommend cooking turkeys until they are steaming hot, with no pink meat remaining and clear juices, to mitigate the risk of infection.
