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Antibiotics in Your Food: What You Need To Know

By Marcia G. Yerman HERWriter February 10, 2012 - 3:27pm
 
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During the height of the cold weather months, people count on antibiotics to fight bacterial infections. What they may not know is that current overuse and misuse of antibiotics is making bacteria more rapidly resistant to “essential antibiotics.”

This scenario has all the elements of a modern science-fiction movie: monied interests, public health, government officials, unheeded warnings, and citizens getting vocal.

Playing a leading role in bringing awareness to the American people is The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-profit that focuses on “improving public policy and informing the public.” They have been using a multi-pronged social media campaign to amplify the problem with an awareness website, saveantibiotics.org, a petition on change.org, and an outreach campaign to alert mothers.

They are not alone in their apprehensions. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has stated that “antibiotic resistance” is among its top concerns. In a 2010 Congressional hearing, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA) — along with the CDC — testified that a definitive link existed between antibiotic resistance in people and the “routine non-therapeutic use of antibiotic in industrial farming.”

So what does this all mean to the layperson?

 
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We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, 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.

Marcia G. Yerman HERWriter View Profile Send Message

Being a contributing Her writer is an important part of my writing portfolio because of the opportunity it affords ...

http://www.mgyerman.com

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Anonymous

Make sure you check out http://www.facebook.com/CitizensAgainstSuperbugs Thanks! The Appelgate Crew

February 13, 2012 - 12:09pm
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