Facebook Pixel

Groups Sue FDA to Stop Widespread Antibiotic Use in Livestock

 
Rate This
Political Issues related image Photo: Getty Images

Old MacDonald had a farm, and on that farm he had chickens, pigs, cows and antibiotics--or so the story should go today on commercial farms.

For years, large-scale factory farms have routinely used antibiotics in livestock feed to promote faster growth in animals and help maintain their health in unsanitary, crowded living conditions.

But the practice has severe implications for the health of Americans, said several environmental and public health groups. On May 25, 2011, these groups filed suit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to urge the government to stop farmers from this dangerous practice.

“The longer we use these drugs, the less effective the arsenal becomes,” said Margaret Mellon, a senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists in a Washington Post article.

The organization, along with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Animals Concern Trust and Public Citizen, filed the complaint in federal court hoping to bring more awareness to widespread antibiotic use in animal agriculture.

Today, about 70 percent of all the antibiotics used in the United States today are given to healthy farm animals, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. The groups said this overuse of antibiotics has increased the prevalence of superbugs that infect people and do not respond to antibiotics.

“Those bacteria don’t stay on the farm,” wrote Peter Lehner, executive director of the NRDC on his staff blog. “They spread to humans and can lead to superbugs that are difficult or impossible to cure. Last month, for instance, 55,000 pounds of frozen raw turkey burgers had to be recalled because of a salmonella strain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said is immune to commonly prescribed antibiotics. Drug-resistant infections caused by these and other bacteria are estimated to cost Americans up to $26 billion every year.”

Defenders of the practice said the animals receive low doses of medicine, but advocacy groups claimed the levels are high enough to allow bacteria resistant to antibiotic treatment to thrive.

Antibiotic resistance has been a growing public health concern, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). In 2010, the AMA provided testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health of the Energy and Commerce Committee outlining a multi-faceted approach to help combat antibiotic resistance.

Back in 2009 the Obama administration said it would seek to ban routine use of antibiotics in farm animals. But the FDA has lagged in creating regulations.

Until new legislation is passed, you can avoid ingesting unnecessary antibiotics by buying organic meats that are labeled “raised without antibiotics” or talk to your butcher and find out the origins of your meat.

Suzanne Boothby is a Brooklyn-based wellness writer, certified health coach and co-founder of New York Family Wellness. Visit www.suzanneboothby.com to learn more.

NRDC Blog

Washington Post

Union of Concerned Scientists

Reviewed May 27, 2011
Edited by Alison Stanton

Add a Comment1 Comments

I think this is good news, but I think it would be even better news if the FDA would take an aggressive stance on this issue, working to end this unnecessary and harmful use of antibiotics, without having to be pressed into doing so by lawsuits.

I think the more media attention this issue gets, and the more pressure people put on politicians and on the FDA itself, the more likely that this problem will be resolved without the lawsuit needing to move forward.

That would speed up the solving of this problem, and prevent unnecessary money and effort spent on legal wranglings.

May 31, 2011 - 6:37am
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

Political Issues

Get Email Updates

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!