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inanna

(3,547 posts)
Sat Oct 10, 2015, 07:39 PM Oct 2015

California adopts tough rules for antibiotic use in farm animals

Source: Reuters

Sat Oct 10, 2015 6:27pm EDT

California Governor Jerry Brown on Saturday signed a bill that sets the strictest government standards in the United States for the use of antibiotics in livestock production.

The move from California, known for its leadership on public health and environmental issues, comes amid growing concern that the overuse of such drugs is contributing to rising numbers of life-threatening human infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as "superbugs."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 2 million people in this country are infected with drug resistant bacteria each year and that 23,000 die as a direct result.

"This puts California at the forefront of U.S. efforts to address the overuse of antibiotics in meat production," said Avinash Kar, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/10/us-usa-livestock-antibiotics-idUSKCN0S40YR20151010

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appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
2. K & R. Excellent. 70% or more antibiotic use in the US is for livestock, not humans. It's
Sat Oct 10, 2015, 11:51 PM
Oct 2015

great that CA is leading the way on this issue.

 

chernabog

(480 posts)
3. What if you just didn't eat animals though?
Sun Oct 11, 2015, 08:22 AM
Oct 2015

Then this wouldn't even be a problem for you.
The Governor should also be looking at how much water the factory farming industry uses and restrict that, since it affects everyone.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
4. IF california does, it its likely to spread. GOOD.
Sun Oct 11, 2015, 08:34 AM
Oct 2015

People already use WAY to many antibiotics as it is. Its in our water systems now. Its in wild caught fish

 

fasttense

(17,301 posts)
5. Wouldn't it be much simpler if the FDA didn't approve antibiotics for use in farm animals
Sun Oct 11, 2015, 01:03 PM
Oct 2015

except to save the life of the animal. The FDA should not approve sub-therapeutic administering of antibiotics. Sub-therapeutic means below the dosage level to treat a possible disease. Sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics are fed to farm animals to prevent disease outbreaks especially in feedlots or other overcrowded conditions. Feeding antibiotics to farm animals at regular intervals has been shown to increase their weight as much as 10% and the use of antibiotics for enhance food production is what is causing the major problem.

The FDA should just not approve this use of antibiotics in farm animals except to save their life instead of going state by state by state by state...

Chemisse

(30,793 posts)
6. Finally!!! And hopefully others will follow.
Sun Oct 11, 2015, 01:11 PM
Oct 2015

But how long have we known this was a problem? 30 years? More?

Why did we have to wait until there are so many superbugs?

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
7. only thing that sucks is this- :It also aims to stop over-the-counter sale of antibiotics for livest
Sun Oct 11, 2015, 01:40 PM
Oct 2015
It also aims to stop over-the-counter sale of antibiotics for livestock use. Under the new rules, antibiotics would have to be ordered by a licensed veterinarian.

lots of simple over the counter used for aquarium fish, small and large animals for eye infections and diarrhea. A bottle of tylan powder for example is under $20 where the Vet charges hundred$$ for the same size. plus of course the farm call add another $100.

One would think they would ban the factory farms & 'the mud-pits they call 'feedlots', they have to medicate those animals so they don't rot from the bacteria in the filithy conditions. ban pre-medicated animal feed.

They should also require large animal vets to report every case of a sick animal with a MERSA infection. And test for animals with sickness like mersa at the slaughterhouses.

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