Use of antibiotics in animals harmful to humans?
Category: Health
May 2, 2010 | BY Stephanie Kuo
The types of antibiotic use that scientists, farmers and health officials are most concerned about, though, are the sub-therapeutic ones. These include distributing antibiotics to healthy animals as a means of growth promotion as opposed to disease prevention—a controversial practice that has been a facet of conventional farming since farmers discovered that small doses of antibiotics administered regularly could make animals gain as much as 3 percent more weight, according to a PBS Frontline report.
And the practice of regularly mixing lower level doses of antibiotics into animal feed and water is in many ways much worse than large doses administered when needed.
“Small doses are the perfect breeding ground for resistant bacteria. You aren’t killing the entire bacterial population,” says Tencer. “You’re leaving the strongest to survive while killing the weakest.”
Davis agrees. “The stronger, more resistant bacteria are the ones that continue to reproduce and pass on resistance to their offspring.”
Numerous preemptive measures can be taken, however, to limit antibiotic use while still maintaining livestock health. Farmers can begin with ensuring that their animals live in healthy conditions with plenty of open space, Tencer says. Stressful conditions are more prone to disease, and if animals are in confinement, farmers should install better ventilation and clean out spaces regularly.
“There are plenty of successful farmers now who don’t use antibiotics in their livestock, and they are showing us that it can work,” Tencer points out.
Cunningham likes to believe he’s one of them. “It’s a lie when big companies say we can’t feed the world without modified agriculture. There is enough land here to raise healthy animals,” he says.
And in light of recent medical findings, many large meat companies and farms are now trying to veer away from antibiotic uses in animals.
“There are still many out there that use antibiotics, but there is also a lot more consumer pressure these days,” Davis says. “Large companies like Tyson have quality programs in place so they don’t get a black eye when someone gets sick. When that happens, companies lose their consumers’ confidence. Then they actually lose money.”
Davis is one of many who stresses that the issue of antibiotic usage is not as black-and-white as it appears. “It becomes a balancing act. It’s one of those things where you have to weigh your options,” he says. “You want your animals to be healthy because you need to sell them, but is this at the expense of human health?”
Despite the pressure to pull back on antibiotic usage on farms, overall, the product remains unchanged.
“There is overwhelming evidence that shows that resistant bacteria are being transferred to humans,” says Tencer, who stresses that antibiotic resistance in humans as a result of use or misuse of antibiotics in livestock is not a matter to be treated lightly or dismissed easily.
Last year, an estimated 65,000 people were killed by drug-resistant infections — almost the number of people who died from breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. And with the CDC reporting 76 million cases of foodborne illnesses a year, maybe a little pink in a steak won’t be so delectable after all. Maybe forking over an extra dollar or two for organic won’t be so extravagant because becoming what you eat is possibly a much scarier reality than imagined.
Tags: Animals, Antibiotic Resistance, featured, Health, legislation, Meat Industry, Poultry
About the Author
Stephanie Kuo: A graduate of Plano Senior High School, Stephanie is a sophomore at The University of Texas at Austin, studying copy-editing and design in the School of Journalism. Last summer, she interned at a small community newspaper, where she worked full-time as a writer and editor. Currently, she is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, and serves as webmaster and service chair at the UT chapter. Stephanie hopes to make it in the world of magazines someday, writing and editing for publications like Vanity Fair. Stephanie affiliates herself with the Democratic Party, with liberal perspectives on issues such as capital punishment, health care, and abortion. She is extremely interested in foreign policy and the need for the United States to form more diplomatic ties with foreign nations.
