Groups Sue FDA to Stop Big Ag Antibiotic Abuse—And It Just Might Work

from Civil Eats:



Groups Sue FDA to Stop Big Ag Antibiotic Abuse—And It Just Might Work

May 26th, 2011
By Tom Laskawy


A growing weight of research links routine antibiotic use on factory farms to the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria–which are showing up in more and more places worldwide (including, according to recent studies, in your local supermarket). Doctor groups, from the American Medical Association to the American Society of Microbiology, have appealed to the government and industry to restrict the practice, lest critical antibiotics become useless for human treatments.

Over the past couple of years, the FDA changed its tune and has finally begun to respond to the threat. Top officials at the FDA have testified of the dangers to Congress. The agency itself is developing “voluntary guidance” that would restrict the practice–which currently sees 80 percent of all antibiotics used in this country given to food animals.

Sadly, though, the FDA is still whistling when it should be belting its song to the rafters. In fact, the meat industry has successfully resisted, and in the case of the antibiotic Cephalosporin, turned back via “midnight regulations” by outgoing Bush administration FDA officials, specific measures meant to address this threat to public health. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://civileats.com/2011/05/26/groups-sue-fda-to-stop-big-ag-antibiotic-abuse%E2%80%94and-it-just-might-work/

Humans are just too slow to react. ESPECIALLY if there is $$$ involved. What I wonder is why the ENT folks haven't been SCREECHING about the hazards of earbuds while exercising...