– Opinion –
Written by Allie Molinaro
If you aren’t already worried about antibiotic resistance, now is the time to start paying attention. The United Nations recently issued a grave warning. declare Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing global health threats. Antibiotic resistance known as a ‘silent pandemic’ 4.7 million people lost their lives In 2021 alone. If left unchecked, that number could soar to 10 million people a year by 2050. twice AMR healthcare costs are projected to exceed $1 trillion annually, with GDP losses of up to $3.4 trillion.
Many believe that human misuse is the main cause of antibiotic resistance. The easiest way to spike a doctor’s or nurse’s blood pressure is to tell them that you are not done with antibiotics yet. “You can’t do that!” they would shout, “That’s how you create superbugs!” Of course, they’re right, because exposing bacteria to antibiotics without killing them all can cause the surviving bacteria to develop resistance to the drug.
But your decision to stop your 14-day prescription after 11 days is probably not as apocalyptic as your doctor says. I don’t condone prematurely discontinuing antibiotics, but it’s not the main cause of antibiotic resistance. In fact, most antibiotics are not used in humans. About Two-thirds of all antibiotics in the United States Used in the meat and poultry industry. And what makes medical experts even more scolding is that most of these antibiotics are used on animals that are not sick.
In the United States, 98% of animals raised for meat are trapped in an industrialized system It prioritizes maximum production at the expense of animal health. Thousands (sometimes hundreds of thousands) of stressed and frustrated animals are crammed into poorly ventilated barns, standing in their own waste. There is often a lesion or open wound, and standard treatment often includes: cut an animal’s tail Or they may be castrated without proper treatment. Body fluids such as urine, blood, and mucus mix among herds of immunosuppressed animals, creating a toxic soup of bacteria, parasites, fungi, and viruses. Fertilizer is stored in the lagoon, which is the size of a soccer field, creating yet another breeding ground for disease. Routine antibiotics are used as a crutch to keep animals alive until slaughter, while animal health and welfare are often ignored.
According to the FDA, the U.S. livestock industry: Purchased over 24 million pounds of antibiotics Last year, more than half of them were considered medically important. Despite public pressure to wean the livestock industry off its addiction to antibiotics, little progress has been made in the beef, turkey and pork sectors, and even their use has increased in recent years.
Consumers have taken matters into their own hands by choosing products labeled as antibiotic-free. However, a recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture sampled approximately 200 cow carcasses in 34 states and found that 20 percent of the samples were on the “raised without antibiotics” market. did. Contains antibiotic residue. In other words, one in five beef products labeled as antibiotic-free may not contain any antibiotics at all.
Given these findings, the USDA will definitely require testing, right? Wrong. Despite the USDA’s own findings, recently updated labeling guidelines only “recommend” that companies verify antibiotic-free claims through testing. This level of surveillance is as comforting as “encouraging” a toddler to confess to stealing cookies from the cookie jar.
The USDA oversees the approval of value-added claims on animal products, such as “raised without antibiotics” and “free from antibiotics.” The agency has undertaken a multi-year effort to update its approval process, which prompted the investigation. But new rules In many ways it is the same as the old one, only requiring companies wishing to make such a claim on their packaging to submit a written description of their operating procedures and adding recommendations for the implementation of a testing program. Although the agency spent significant time and resources researching and uncovering serious flaws in its verification system, the resulting regulatory updates are more like an amnesty than a fix.
Meanwhile, other regions have succeeded in eliminating antibiotics from agriculture. In 2022, the European Union banning the routine use of antibiotics In the case of livestock, mutilation Use half for each animal Comparison with the US Legislation was enacted in the UK earlier this year. Ban the routine use of antibiotics It also prohibits farmers from using antibiotics “to compensate for poor hygiene, inadequate animal husbandry, or poor farm management practices.”
The Department of Agriculture’s toothless and indifferent response to antibiotic misuse and mislabeling is a slap in the face to medical professionals, United Nations leaders, and the public. The USDA should do everything it can to prevent a post-antibiotic era, but it won’t even require testing for voluntary antibiotic claims. The agency’s inaction is also unfair to farmers who adhere to true antibiotic-free practices and rely on differentiating their products in the marketplace to make that claim. As USDA refuses to enforce strict testing standards in any capacity, the integrity of these labels and public trust will collapse, and so will our health.
So what can we, as consumers, do to combat this growing crisis?
1. Get to know your farmer. As USDA research has proven, when it comes to antibiotic-free products, you don’t really know what you’re getting unless you get it from the source. Try to buy from local producers where you can ask questions directly about their production methods. Cows that are 100% grass-fed are less likely to be given antibiotics to prevent liver abscesses, a symptom of an unnatural grain diet.
2. Eat less meat. The only sure way to reduce antibiotics from farmed animals is to reduce consumption of animal products. America eats Per capita meat and poultry intake increases More than any other country in the world. To support healthier farming practices, we need to reduce our meat intake and move towards grass-based systems.
3. Advocate for change. Please ask your representative to: support federal bill Laws such as the Agricultural Systems Reform Act and the Industrial Agriculture Transformation Act provide resources for farmers entrenched in industrialized methods to transition to more sustainable farming practices that reduce the need for antibiotics.
The era of unchecked use of antibiotics in the livestock industry must end. Without urgent reform, the future will be grim, with common infections once again becoming deadly and the foundations of modern medicine erased by the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. But by making informed food choices and supporting systemic change, we can lead the world to a healthier, more sustainable future.
About the author: Allie Molinaro is the U.S. Campaign Manager for Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and a multisector coalition member of the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center. CIWF is a science-driven global organization dedicated to improving the welfare of farmed animals. We work with policymakers and food companies to provide technical expertise to peacefully campaign for the end of factory farming and the transition to a caring, just and sustainable food system. We will support you. CIWF is also a founding member of the Alliance to Save Antibiotics.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News,click here)
