The FDA is now saying that antibiotic use in meat production has become a threat to the health of the public. Antibiotic overuse has a consequence of antibiotic-resistance in bacteria which can then infect the people eating it.
The FDA grants that the use of antibiotics to protect the health of the public and of animals has been beneficial over the past 50 years. But it is concerned about the practice of antibiotic use to make animals grow faster and reduce the cost of feeds. And the practice of continuously giving antibiotics to animals is also a concern.
"The agency said it is expecting to issue more specific guidelines soon, but FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner of Food and Drugs Joshua Sharfstein would not say whether the agency eventually plans to issue stricter regulations. He said the guidelines are just a first step and the agency will be watching industry response and also patterns of antibiotic resistance."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/29/fda-antibiotics-meat-limi_n_629484.html