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Antibiotics in Livestock feed: how it effects us
- 2. Background Antibiotics are used to prevent diseases and promote growth in animals. Over 70% of the antibiotics produced in the United States is used for livestock.
- 3. Say no to Antibiotics Antibiotics should not be allowed in livestock feed, unless needed for medical assistance for sick or injured animals
- 4. Antibiotic resistance The spread of anti-biotic bacteria can spread to humans through many ways including soil, air, water and food. This problem can affect everyone not just those who eat meat
- 5. Spread of antibiotic resistance Workers of the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) are often colonized with the drug-resistant bacteria They then can spread it to their homes and communities
- 6. Controversial Drugs One “farm favorite” drug are fluoroquinolone antibiotics This drug has serious side affects including peripheral neuropathy, also known as nerve damage
- 7. Controversial Drugs The USDA’s National residue program for Meat, Poultry, and Egg products test for six fluoroquinolones. They found enrofloxacin (Baytril) and Ciprofloxacin (cipro) in meats when testing in 2014, 2013 and 2012
- 8. Bacteria affecting Humans Even when given antibiotics, animals still have bacteria in them that they carry in their gut. These bacteria can be spread when the animal is slaughtered Salmonella and campylobacter are the two most predominate
- 9. Pig Zero At the Big Swine industry trade show in 2018, known as the World Pork Expo, one of the largest manufacturers of drugs for livestock was pushing for the use of antibiotics. “Don’t wait for pig zero” was presented on a poster
- 10. Opinion after research Antibiotics should only be used for medical purposes Regulation should be taken more seriously when testing for antibiotics and bacteria like salmonella and campylobacter
- 11. References Dennett, C. (2018, December 27). Worried about antibiotics in livestock? Here are the facts. Retrieved from https://www.seattletimes.com/life/wellness/worried-about-antibiotics-in-livestock-here-are-the -facts/. Hakim, D., & Richtel, M. (2019, June 7). Warning of 'Pig Zero': One Drugmaker's Push to Sell More Antibiotics. Retrieved from.html. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/07/health/drug-companies -antibiotics-resistance Martin, J. (2019, October 15). Food animals are more and more resistant to antibiotics, study shows, which could hurt the people that eat them. Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/food-animals-are- more-more-resistant-antibiotics-study-shows-which-could-hurt-people-that-eat-1465171.
- 12. References Rosenberg, M. (2018, July 13). Dangerous Antibiotics Used in U.S. Livestock Behind the Public’s Back. Retrieved from https://www.opednews.com/articles/Dangerous-Antibiotics-Used-by -Martha-Rosenberg-Animals_Food-Additives_Food-Industry-Industrial_Food-Safety-180713- 195.html. Shapiro, S. A. (2017). Overuse of antibiotics in concentrated animal feeding operations: Regulation and tort law. Environmental Law, 47(3), 557-582. Retrieved from https:// heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals /envlnw47 &id= 594&me n_tab=srchresults Williams, K. (2019, July 1). Williams: Antibiotic resistance can be reduced by responsible use of antibiotics in livestock. Retrieved from https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/ opinion/cc-op-other-voices-042419-story.html.
Editor's Notes
- Over the years, many famers had practiced using antibiotics in their livestock feed in order to prevent diseases spread from the overcrowding of their animals and to promote rapid growth. When adding the antibiotics, it allows for the growth time of the animals, like chickens, pigs and cows to be cut down significantly in order to get the meat faster. Over 70% of the antibiotics produced in the United states is used for livestock feeds, which can lead to antibiotic resistant bacteria.
- When farmers use antibiotics when they aren’t medically necessary, it encourages the growth and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. According to the Seattle Times, each year, about 2 million Americans get sick from this, and about 23,000 die because of bacterial infections not cured by antibiotics.
- Many studies have found high levels of contamination with antibiotic-resistant bacteria in meat sold in retail stores. The Seattle Times mentions that in 2012, an outbreak of salmonella that was resistant to many antibiotics was traced back to ground beef sold in supermarkets. In addition to this, food crops that are fertilized with manure containing the antibiotic-resistant bacteria is another way it can spread to our food sources. This means that even people who don’t eat meat can be affected as well.
- On top of this, when they travel with live broiler chickens to the slaughterhouses, the trucks contain litter filled with the bacteria and can spread it onto the roads they travel and throughout the air. This leads to anyone passing by, being susceptible to the bacteria.
- In 2013 the FDA admitted that the serious side affect of this drug, peripheral neuropathy, “can occur soon after these drugs are taken and may be permanent.” The government managed to ban fluoroquinolone Baytril, also known as enrofloxacin, from its use in poultry water after a decade long battle with Bayer. However, fluoroquinolones are still widely used on U.S. farms, despite the ban.
- On top of these, traces of Danoflaxacin were found. This antibiotic is not even approved for humans. According to OpEd news, this antibiotic is so dangerous that it’s label states “animals intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 4 days of the last treatment. Do not use in cattle intended for dairy production. A withdrawal period has not been established for this product in preruminating calves. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal.” This can cause issues for humans because if this is not regulated, many people can be affected and cause harm to our health and organs.
- According to Newsweek, new regulations published in September 2019, have no federal testing standards for finding salmonella in pork. They also stated that there is no performance standards for salmonella and campylobacter tests in poultry. This can be very concerning for us as consumers because the food we are putting into our bodies are not being regulated on a consistent basis.
- In an article in the New York Times, they mentioned that at the Big swine industry trade show, one of the largest manufacturers of drugs for livestock was pushing for the use of antibiotics. They encourage farmers to feed the pigs the antibiotics rather than to wait to treat an outbreak of a disease. This company also pushes that with the use of the antibiotics, it would make their pigs much fatter and a heavier pig is a more profitable one. Although, having a more profitable pig would overall benefit the meat industry, our health as humans is important too and what they don’t realize by pushing all these medications is that they are causing harm to not only meat eaters, but people who don’t eat meat as well.
- After doing this research, I still believe that antibiotics should only be used for medical purposes. Thousands of people suffer each year from this regardless if they eat meat or not. This can cause further issues when an individual needs to take antibiotics because if they have that resistance, then they might not be able to seek help from medical professionals. On top of, animals already have bacteria in their gut and if you constantly expose those to antibiotics, then they could build a resistance and pass it on to us. Regulation of antibiotics and testing should be taken a step further in order to keep individuals safe.