A federal judge on Thursday ordered regulators to start proceedings to withdraw approval for the use of common antibiotics in animal feed, citing concerns that overuse is endangering human health by creating antibiotic-resistant "superbugs".
U.S. Magistrate Judge Theodore Katz ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin proceedings unless makers of the drugs can produce evidence that their use is safe.
If they can't, then the FDA must withdraw approval for non-therapeutic use of those drugs, the judge ruled.
The FDA had started such proceedings in 1977, prompted by its concerns the widespread use in livestock feed of certain antibiotics - particularly tetracyclines and penicillin, the most common. But the proceedings were never completed and the approval remained in place.
Oh this is really going to sit well with the pharmaceutical companies. Over 60% of antibiotics sold in the US go to animal feed.
ReplyDeleteThe meat industry and dairy industry have lied to the public for so long it's about time for this to happen. People should be aware of what is in our food. Of course the lies from big Ag have always been endorsed by our own government.
ReplyDeleteUmm, this is not the problem. The problem is that cattle are being fed corn and not grass, There is not enough grass, so a "ruminant" who needs grass for disease defense gets nothing but corn on a feedlot to make the fake beef we have now available. And , of course, we have to dispense drugs to make up for his lack of ability to defend againsy disease naturally given in grass.
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