The Debate on Antibiotics

Rincker Law Ag-vocacy Leave a Comment

Recently Katie Couric’s CBS special on antibiotic use on livestock has the agriculture industry (particularly the National Pork Producers Council) once again defending its practices to American consumers.  The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (“NCBA”) sent Dr. Michael Apley, a veterinary clinical pharmacologist from Kansas State University to Washington to visit with Congress about the use of antibiotics in the beef industry and visit with Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Rep. Leonard Bosell (D-IA) about the house bill (H.R.1549 ) to ban the use of antibiotics in livestock.

I have had clients of mine here in New York City ask me about antibiotic use and where I buy my meat.  I respond by saying that I have no problem eating meat from animals who were given antibiotics.  I believe that it is perfectly safe and I feel comfortable feeding my family the same thing.  We have the safest food industry in the world — and this is partly due to the fact that our Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) is putting up safeguards to ensure that antibiotic use on livestock is safe for the American consumer.  I tell my clients that I have no issues with the organic industry and if it makes them feel safer to buy locally raised, organic meat then that is great.  It will cost more and won’t be as convenient but it’s completely fine to support the organic industry.  I believe that the agriculture industry needs to continue to provide these options to consumers. 

As for where I buy my meat?  The Gristedes on 89th and Lexington.  We’ve been through a lot together.  That grocery store got me through law school and the bar exam.  It’s only a block away from me and the grocery delivery guys know me personally (I’m still a small-town girl at heart). 

In all seriousness, I believe that meat is safe no matter where you buy it or who produced it or how large of an operation it was produced on.  We have very stringent food safety regulations in this country.  I think it is wonderful if people want to shop at Whole Foods (I’m a fan myself), attend their local farmer’s market, or purchase organic meat directly from a local livestock producer.  But none of these purchases are more or less safe than the meat I buy at my local Gristedes.

I came across numerous blogs on both sides of the issue.  I was going to post some links here but have decided against it.  I think it is important for people to look at the issue as a whole and really delve into the facts themselves.  Don’t take a journalist’s view at face value.  Ask these questions before deciding where you stand on this issue: 

– Is antibiotic use scientifically correlated to any human health problem?  How heavily has this issue been researched?

– What is the FDA currently doing to regulate antibiotic use with livestock?

– How expensive are antibiotics? 

– What frequency do livestock producers currently use antibiotics? 

– Can livestock producers get as much antibiotics as they need or is a prescription needed from a licensed veterinarian?

– What financial hardship does antibiotic overuse create for livestock producers?

– How prevelant will disease be if livestock producers cannot use antibiotics?  How will this affect our food supply?

– What education is available to livestock producers to make sure they understand how to properly administer antibiotics?  Are livestock producers participating in these educational opportunities?

So what did you find out?  What are the real facts behind antibiotic use in the livestock industry?

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