FDA Calls Antibiotic Use In Farming 'Serious Public Health Threat,' GOP Ignores Mounting Evidence

[Hissyspit]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/16/antibiotic-farming-fda-vs-republicans_n_649611.html

Lucia Graves

FDA Calls Antibiotic Use In Farming 'A Serious Public Health Threat,' GOP Ignores Mounting Evidence
First Posted: 07-16-10 06:50 PM | Updated: 07-16-10 07:23 PM

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A bill introduced by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) would prohibit seven types of antibiotics from being used indiscriminately in animal feed, a practice that has been linked to increased antibiotic resistance in humans. While the legislation is unlikely to become law this year, the bill already has 113 cosponsors and supporters have vowed to continue the fight.

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Slaughter's bill got a boost on June 28 when the FDA released draft guidance showing that excessive use of antibiotics to raise bigger livestock and poultry "poses a serious public health threat." The guidance papers, which do not carry weight of law but are generally accepted by industry, call for phasing in veterinary oversight and using antibiotics in food-producing animals only when needed for the animals' health.

During the hearing, Assistant Surgeon General Ali Khan cited salmonella studies which show that a steady diet of antibiotics yields antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can spread from livestock to humans who eat them or their produce. But when FDA Deputy Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein began to explain why using medically important antimicrobial drugs for production purposes is not in the interest of protecting and promoting the public health, Shimkus kept cutting him off, until the committee chairman had to intercede.

"You are being disrespectful," Waxman told Shimkus. Turning to Sharfstein, Waxman said, "He doesn't like the answer you've given, but let's hear what it is." Sharfstein provided information on cases of antimicrobial resistance and cited a 2004 report from Infectious Diseases Society of America that said about 2 million people acquire bacterial infections in U.S. hospitals each year, and 70 percent of those infections are resistant to at least one drug.

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[niyad]

1. there is the additonal problem that those who are allergic to antibiotics can suffer severe health

problems from this practice.

[ZombieHorde]

2. This is a big deal, recommended. nt

[kestrel91316]

3. I got a degree in microbiology before I got a degree in veterinary medicine,

and it always galled me how the livestock veterinary professors were so blase about antibiotics used as growth promotants. It totally went counter to everything I learned in micro about RESPONSIBLE use of antibiotics.

Even now my profession resists change.

I am highly allergic to sulfa drugs and don't know how I first got exposed and sensitized. It may very well have been due to consumption of meat with sulfa residues.

Sigh.

[Tumbulu]

4. 70% of antibiotic sales are to livestock feed companies....

and the feed lots cannot function without the ruminant animals being medicated so that they can eat grain in large quantities.

I hope that the use of antibiotics in feed is stopped before we lose anymore antibiotics to resistance.

The price of meat will need to go up, but it is well worth it, imo.