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Limit antibiotic use on U.S. livestock, says the FDA
The Food and Drug Administration believes antibiotics should be used on livestock only to cure or prevent disease and not to promote growth, a common use, said a high-ranking FDA official on Monday.
Principal deputy FDA commissioner Joshua Sharfstein said restrictions on livestock use would reduce the opportunity for bacteria to develop resistance to drugs used by humans.
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Critics of the heavy antibiotic use in livestock, such as the Union of Concerned Scientists, estimate 70 percent of all antibiotics sold in the United States are used on food animals, mostly in tiny doses that promote weight gain or more efficient feed consumption.
Other groups say livestock's share of antibiotic use is much lower and the bulk of it goes to fighting or preventing disease.
"Purposes other than for the advancement of animal or human health should not be considered judicious use" and not allowed, Sharfstein said in a statement for a House hearing. "Eliminating these uses will not compromise the safety of food.
Article continues: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE56C6VL20090713?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews
