Despite Grave Concerns Antibiotic Use Increases on Farms

A recent article in The Wall Street Journal highlights the increasing concerns over the use of antibiotics to promote quicker growth in livestock using less food. According to the U.S. government, “The amount of antibiotics sold for use in cows, chickens and other animals raised for food increased 16% between 2009 and 2012. A major concern is that as the use of these antibiotics increases, bacteria become more resistant, leading to an increase in drug-resistant infections for people consuming animals.

The article explains that the White House has announced a plan “to preserve the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and to speed the discovery of new drugs to combat this serious threat to public health. A new task force will be responsible for developing a national strategy by February.

The Food and Drug Administration is also developing a voluntary plan to reduce the use of antibiotics for growth and is asking farmers to have a prescription before using antibiotics to combat disease. However, as the FDA’s plan is completely voluntary, it lacks real power.

With the rise in antibiotic-resistant superbugs, there’s never been a better time to ditch antibiotic-laden animal products in favor of plant-based alternatives.

Check out ChooseVeg.com for meal ideas and more information on making the transition.