The Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Food Animals

Antibiotic resistant bacteria present on food can transfer their resistance genes to the inherent gut microbiome of the consumer. Both omnivores and vegetarians showed a significantly higher antibiotic resistant gene load in their guts as compared with vegans. The first evidence that a vegan lifestyle is associated with a reduced load of human gut antibiotic resistant genes. Fewer Tetracycling resistance genes in vegan guts and more vankomycin resistance genes in the guts of those who eat meat.