The Dangers Of The Prescription Meat We Eat

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

In the United States doctors and patients alike have long been blamed for over prescription and use of antibiotic drugs, resulting in the development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.  In fact, Americans consume approximately 6 million pounds of prescribed antibiotics every year.  However, this pales in comparison to the almost 30 million pounds of antibiotics used in our food production.  Almost 80 percent of the total antibiotics sold in the U.S., is used for livestock whether they are sick or not.

In many European countries, they have recognized the serious health risks associated with the growth promoting use of antibiotics in animal feed and accordingly such use has long since been banned.  Notwithstanding, in the U.S. antibiotics are continuously added to feed for animals raised in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), in an effort to increase size at an accelerated rate and counteract the deplorable germ infested conditions in which the animals are "raised."  In fact, a third strain of MRSA has also evolved among livestock animals and there is increasing concern that this strain could result in widespread human infection.

Unfortunately, the FDA and the USDA have failed to take any significant action to safeguard the American people and instead have asked food producers to voluntarily limit the use of certain antibiotics.  Congress has been equally ineffective, as U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) has now in vein introduced four versions of her proposed Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act to the U.S. House of Representatives.  Although the proposed bill, would logically ban non-therapeutic uses of medically important antibiotics in food animal production, it has yet to pass.

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