Meat and meat products are essential to human diet, with their global consumption continuing to rise (Forcinio, 2022; Oleinikova et al., 2025). As reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the production of meat has surged at an average annual growth rate of 1.5% over the past two decades, reaching over 360 million tons in 2022, with poultry and pork being the predominant types (FAO, 2024). Meat is rich in high-quality proteins, essential vitamins, and minerals, contributing significantly to human health (Geoffrey Tshifhiwa et al., 2021; Wagner et al., 2020). However, various stages of production, processing, storage, and distribution are vulnerable to contamination (Aydin et al., 2011; Kotzekidou, 2013), with microbial contamination posing a particularly serious threat to food safety.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the global health burden of foodborne illnesses is comparable to that of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, with bacterial pathogens responsible for approximately two-thirds of all cases (Havelaar et al., 2015). Animal-derived foods are major transmission vehicles (Grace, 2023; Hoffmann et al., 2017). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), a leading cause of bacterial food poisoning, produces a range of heat-stable enterotoxins. It is widely distributed on the skin and mucosa of humans and animals, and meat’s rich protein content provides a favorable environment for its growth, potentially leading to acute gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, and even death in severe cases.

More critically, in intensive livestock farming systems, the recurrent administration of antibiotics through feed additives or drinking water induces selective proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacterial populations. Of particular concern is the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which poses a threat to public health (Alqurashi et al., 2025; Junnila et al., 2020). MRSA exhibits an uncanny ability to colonize diverse anatomical niches, including nasal passages, skin surfaces, and gastrointestinal mucosa, across a spectrum of host species (Geenen et al., 2013; Nemati et al., 2009). Armed with the mecA gene or its mecC homolog, MRSA encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), bestowing it with resilience against β-lactam antibiotics. This not only complicates treatment but also amplifies the risk of zoonotic transmission (Petinaki and Spiliopoulou, 2012). Once confined primarily to hospital-acquired infections, MRSA has now infiltrated community settings, livestock populations, and even the food supply chain, demonstrating clear attributes indicative of cross-regional transmission dynamics (Kourtis et al., 2019; Matuszewska et al., 2022). The extensive use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry has catalyzed a dramatic surge in the prevalence of MRSA among food-producing animals and their derived products. Alarmingly, foodborne MRSA strains often harbor multiple virulence factors and mobile genetic elements, which expedite the horizontal dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes across microbial populations. This trend exacerbates the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance and poses a significant threat to global public health security by perpetuating the cycle of antibiotic resistance (Ba et al., 2023).

As public demand for high-quality and safe food continues to escalate, the focus has increasingly shifted toward unraveling the epidemiology of MRSA in food-producing animals (Ribeiro et al., 2018). Studies have documented MRSA contamination in meat across various regions. For instance, in Aydın and İzmir, Turkey, the prevalence of MRSA in chicken samples was 2.0% (Kizanlik and Goksoy, 2024), while in traditional markets and supermarkets in Egypt, it reached 5.0% (Morshdy et al., 2023). In Bulgaria, retail pork samples had a prevalence of 4.7% (Gergana et al., 2024). Currently, a systematic global evaluation remains lacking regarding the spatiotemporal distribution patterns and category-specific variations in the prevalence of MRSA contamination across meat and meat products. As a critical method for integrating multi-source research data, meta-analysis enables the synthesis of multiple study outcomes, identifies heterogeneity among primary investigations, and elucidates sources of inter-study variation, thereby providing more robust evidence bases for quantitative microbial risk assessment.

This study employed systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the global pooled prevalence of MRSA, establishing epidemiological evidence essential for scientifically evaluating foodborne disease burden assessments.

This study followed the PRISMA guidelines (Page et al., 2021) and was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD 420251009933).

The systematic review and meta-analysis integrated 34,103 samples from 98 studies across 35 countries, comprehensively quantifying the global prevalence of MRSA contamination in meat and meat products up to December 2024. The findings elucidate spatiotemporal distribution patterns and heterogeneity sources. The pooled prevalence of MRSA was estimated at 3.72% (95% CI: 2.75–5.02%), with significant heterogeneity observed across studies (I² = 95.1%, p < 0.001). This prevalence is lower than that reported by Ribeiro et al. (2018) in poultry meat (8%) but similar to the findings of Ou et al. (2017) on raw meat (3.2%), indicating the widespread dissemination of MRSA along the food chain. After applying the trim-and-fill method to adjust for potential publication bias, the prevalence rose to 14.04% (95% CI: 10.38–18.73%). This dramatic increase suggests that the actual MRSA contamination levels may substantially exceed published estimates due to publication bias favoring negative results, unaccounted cross-contamination risks during retail distribution, and methodological limitations of conventional culture-based detection missing viable-but-non-culturable MRSA states. Enhanced surveillance protocols, advanced detection technologies, and improved data reporting mechanisms are urgently needed for accurate MRSA risk assessment and control.

Notably, the Eastern Mediterranean (9.13%) and Southeast Asia (7.16%) exhibited considerably higher MRSA prevalence (8.63%) than other regions, whereas North America showed the lowest prevalence (1.89%). These regional disparities may be attributable to various factors. The Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asian regions, both located in tropical zones, provide warm and humid climates favorable for S. aureus proliferation, thereby increasing the risk of contamination during meat processing and storage. Predominant intensive farming systems in these regions accelerate pathogen transmission through high-density poultry/livestock confinement (Sykes et al., 2023; Chapot et al., 2024; Rizzo et al., 2024). Biosecurity protocols are inadequately implemented during frequent animal trade activities (Guo et al., 2018). Regulatory deficiencies include absence of mandatory antibiotic residue limits in feed additives in Southeast Asia, and weak antibiotic procurement traceability systems in Eastern Mediterranean, resulting in systematic antibiotic misuse as growth promoters and prophylactic agents. Such practices drive unregulated human-animal exposure that serves as a driver for MRSA evolution and dissemination (Adesokan et al., 2015; Lakhundi and Zhang, 2018; Malik et al., 2023). As most investigated nations are low-and middle-income countries, additional causal factors likely involve suboptimal sanitation infrastructure and cross-contamination during slaughtering and meat processing (Abolghait et al., 2020; Verhegghe et al., 2015). Moreover, weaknesses in cold chain logistics and high ambient temperatures during retail storage may further facilitate bacterial persistence. By contrast, the low prevalence observed in North America aligns with two prior meta-analyses (Ribeiro et al., 2018; Ou et al., 2017), potentially reflecting stringent hygiene regulations, the effective implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems (Hwang et al., 2022), and standardized antimicrobial stewardship practices in livestock farming (Federal Register, 2012; Government of Canada, 2015). However, the findings for South America should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of studies (n = 3) available for this region.

The prevalence of MRSA contamination varies across different types of meat and meat products. Raw poultry meat exhibited the highest pooled prevalence (4.46%), followed by raw livestock meat (3.86%). This observation may be attributed to the high colonization potential of MRSA on the gastrointestinal tract and skin surfaces of poultry and livestock (Peeters et al., 2015; Rinsky et al., 2013). The intensive production systems commonly used in animal husbandry may increase the risk of cross-contamination (Guo et al., 2018), and lapses in hygienic practices during slaughter further exacerbate the spread of contamination. Inadequate control of environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity during transportation and retailing also creates favorable conditions for bacterial proliferation. Moreover, the high protein and fat content of raw meat provides a nutrient-rich environment conducive to bacterial growth (Zhou et al., 2010). In supermarkets or butcheries, meat packaged in polystyrene trays with polyethylene film requires additional handling procedures that may increase the risk of MRSA contamination (Gombas et al., 2017). Moreover, sampled meat packaging demonstrated breached integrity at collection, a critical factor exacerbating cross-contamination potential (Xin et al., 2013), though quantitative comparative data on MRSA contamination across packaging modalities remain lacking. Processed meat products showed a relatively lower prevalence (2.84%), which may be due to osmotic pressure changes during marination or seasoning that inhibit bacterial growth. However, if storage conditions are suboptimal, such products can still serve as potential carriers for toxin accumulation. The absence of MRSA in cooked meat likely reflects synergistic effects of high-temperature sterilization protocols and preferential sourcing from retail establishments with standardized hygiene management (326/491, 66.4%). However, these conclusions derive from only five studies with limited sample size (n = 491), potentially compromising result generalizability.

The contamination rate of MRSA in meat and meat products has exhibited a progressively increasing trend over the years. When stratified by study period, the prevalence of MRSA contamination in meat and meat products was higher from 2015 to 2024 (8.33%) than from 2003 to 2014 (2.72%). This increase may be related to the extensive use of antimicrobial agents in livestock production in recent years, which has promoted the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Furthermore, advancements in detection technologies, particularly the increasing sensitivity of molecular diagnostics and the widespread application of whole genome sequencing, have enabled more accurate identification of previously undetected strains. Increased public awareness of food safety issues has also led to a surge in relevant studies, which has contributed to uncovering the severity of MRSA contamination.

The prevalence of mecA-carrying MRSA in meat and meat products was estimated at 5.51%, with significant heterogeneity (I² = 96.0%). This elevated heterogeneity may be attributed to differences in study designs, including specimen sources, methodological differences, and geographical variations. While horizontal gene transfer is a primary mechanism for mecA dissemination, antimicrobial selection pressure and host immune responses in meat production environments may constrain its epidemiological persistence. In contrast, the prevalence of mecC-carrying MRSA remained markedly low at 0.07%, indicative of limited ecological transmission efficiency in these settings. Notably, phenotypic misclassification of mecC-positive strains as methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) during routine susceptibility testing may contribute to underreporting (Lakhundi and Zhang, 2018; Paterson et al., 2014). Despite its low prevalence, mecC-carrying MRSA warrants vigilance due to its expanded resistance profiles and potential for immune evasion mechanisms.

Publication bias analysis revealed an asymmetric funnel plot and a statistically significant Egger’s test (p < 0.0001), suggesting possible bias in the published literature. This bias may stem from the tendency for studies with positive findings to be more likely to be published, while those with negative results remain unpublished or overlooked. Variations in sample size, detection methods, and other methodological factors across studies could also introduce heterogeneity. Although subgroup analyses were performed to address these differences, residual confounding may still influence the pooled estimates. Nevertheless, sensitivity analyses demonstrated the robustness of the pooled prevalence, with prevalence estimates ranging only from 5.10% (95% CI: 4.87–5.34%) to 5.94% (95% CI: 5.68–6.21%) after sequential exclusion of individual studies, thereby reinforcing the reliability of the findings.

Globally, bacterial contamination of meat is on the rise (Yu et al., 2021), frequently resulting in foodborne illnesses. MRSA has been detected at various stages of meat processing and in both live food animals (Porrero et al., 2012; Mama et al., 2019) and final retail products. Most contamination in food samples occurs in raw meat products. High-temperature cooking is effective in reducing S. aureus contamination in raw meats. Good food handling practices, including proper cooking and hygienic processing, are critical for minimizing the incidence of foodborne diseases (Yasin et al., 2012). These research findings provide evidence-based guidance for regulatory agencies to implement precision quality control interventions, thereby enhancing meat product safety for consumers. For high-prevalence geographical regions and contamination-prone commodities (specifically raw poultry/livestock meats), it is recommended to implement risk-based surveillance strategies, full-chain hygiene protocols encompassing husbandry, slaughtering, processing, transportation, and retail distribution; agricultural practice reformulation emphasizing antibiotic stewardship programs; and mandatory abattoir certification systems. There is a potential link between MRSA contamination rates and the burden of foodborne diseases. Understanding the prevalence of MRSA in meat and meat products can assist clinicians in making informed decisions on antimicrobial therapy and help curb the worsening of antimicrobial resistance due to inappropriate antimicrobial use. S. aureus toxins are major virulence factors responsible for food poisoning in both humans and animals (Zhu et al., 2023). MRSA strains carrying virulence genes such as PVL (Panton-Valentine leukocidin) may contribute to more severe clinical infections. While mechanistically possible, rigorous epidemiological investigation remains imperative to delineate the infection risks associated with direct meat contact or foodborne exposure routes.

In summary, the overall pooled prevalence of MRSA contamination in meat and meat products stood at 3.72% (95% CI: 2.75–5.02%), though this figure may be an underestimate. Following trim-and-fill analysis, the adjusted prevalence climbed to 14.04% (95% CI: 10.38–18.73%). In recent years, there has been a notable rise in the proportion of MRSA-contaminated meat, with detections increasingly reported in raw poultry meat, raw livestock meat, and processed meat products. The highest prevalence of MRSA was observed in the Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asian regions, with substantial geographical variability across continents. These findings underscore that MRSA contamination in meat poses a public health threat to consumers. Hygienic concerns regarding meat products must be integrated into strategies aimed at preventing and controlling contamination risks. Robust and targeted interventions are imperative to mitigate the risk of meat contamination and to prevent zoonotic transmission of MRSA to humans.