Meat&Poultry -- October 2014 - 14

Washington
BY BERNARD SHIRE

meatpoultry@sosland.com

Antibiotic
debate
continues
P

resident Obama and his admin-

illness or infection. Critics of antibi-

The agriculture industry has al-

istration seem to have staked out

otic use on farms say their use there

ready begun doing its part. Animal-

a middle ground on the debate over

adversely affects human health when

health and drug companies, veteri-

the use of antibiotics in both human

people consume those animals. There

narians, and the ranchers and farmers

and veterinary medicine - although

needs to be great reduction in the use

raising the animals are already work-

he seems to be satisfying the meat and

of antibiotics in food animals in order

ing to put into effect the FDA policy

poultry industry more than the anti-

for antibiotics to be effective in human

to phase out the use of antibiotics to

antibiotics crowd.

medicine, believes US Rep. Louise

promote growth in animals. The in-

Slaughter (D-NY), a longtime sup-

dustry also is increasing more over-

porter of reduced use of antibiotics.

sight of antibiotic use by veterinarians.

Last month, Obama directed the
US government to develop a national
plan against antibiotic-resistant patho-

One step directed by Obama's ex-

But the industry makes another

gens and germs by early next year.

ecutive order is for the Food and Drug

very important point - that more re-

The decision is recognition of the

Administration to keep underway its

search and study is needed in order

threat posed by these resistant germs

steps stopping the agriculture indus-

to fully understand what is causing

to both people and animals.

try's use of what's called "medically

the increasing amount of resistance

important" antibiotics to promote the

of bacteria and germs to antibiotics

growth of food animals.

today. Meat producers and processors

Industry trade groups were supportive of the president's ideas, while
politicians voicing concerns that over-

But the meat and poultry process-

work with veterinarians right now to

use of antibiotics in agriculture ad-

ing industry makes a very important

keep down the need for and use of an-

versely affects people were a little less

point by noting that antibiotic resis-

tibiotics, especially antibiotics that are

satisfied with his plan. The president's

tance by bacteria is a very complicat-

important for use in human medicine.

request comes at the very beginning

ed issue - not a simple one - and that

The agriculture industry, includ-

antibiotics are important tools for use

ing veterinary medicine, and the hu-

by veterinarians and human medical

man medical community must work

doctors in both animal and human

together to solve the antibiotic resis-

medicine. The recommendations be-

tance problem. But in fact, both the

ing made by the Obama administra-

CDC and the White House pointed

tion are very similar to what the CDC

out the greatest challenge and threat to

emphasized last year.

public health is the overuse of antibi-

Antibiotics are
important tools for use
by veterinarians and
human medical doctors
in both animal and
human medicine.

otics in human medicine. It's obvious

biotic use in agriculture say a cutback

that the human and animal medical

for Disease Control and Prevention

is needed in agriculture in order to

communities must work together to

(CDC) asking people to begin getting

preserve antibiotic use in what they

make sure that antibiotics, originally

immunized against flu for the win-

see as its most important area - hu-

called "miracle drugs," will continue

ter. Scientists believe repeated con-

man medicine. The fact is both human

to be that miracle for both. ■

tact with antibiotics can lead bacteria

and veterinary medicine must play im-

to become resistant to them, so they

portant roles in solving the problem

are no longer effective in treating an

14

Unfortunately, many critics of anti-

of the flu season, with the Centers

of antibiotic overuse.

* Meat&Poultry * October 2014 * www.MeatPoultry.com

Bernard Shire is a contributing editor based in
Lancaster, Pa. He also works as a food safety
consultant with Shire and Associates.
http://www.MeatPoultry.com
Meat&Poultry -- October 2014

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