Antibiotics In Animals

Urgent calls from health experts to reduce antibiotic use on intensive farms are largely resisted by the agribusiness food lobby, who downplay its role in the spread of antibiotic resistance in humans

Around one half of all antibiotics in Europe are prescribed for animals - the figure in the rest of the world is estimated to be even higher. In the US, where it is reported to account for 70 per cent of antibiotic use, one medical specialist recently said its use in humans 'pales in comparison' to its use in the agri-food industry.

The overuse comes at a cost as it contributes to an ever-increasing amount of antimicrobial resistance as bacteria evolve to withstand existing antibiotics. What's more there is now evidence these resistant bacteria are being transferred to humans via the food chain - putting us at risk of more untreatable infections.

Bacteria can spread from animals to humans through a number of ways, including infected faeces contaminating animals during the slaughter process or being spread as manure on crops.

NOTE: If you buy your meat from anywhere OTHER THAN THE RANCHER, it probably comes from one of the 125,000 CAFO's in the US. Besides the antibiotics, steroids, hormones, there is the unfit for consumption "food" that these animals are fed, then you eat them.

Find out about Distiller Grains and why meat eaters should only consider free range or grass fed animals. Natural is a marketing gimmick when it comes to "natural beef" All that means to me, is that it isn't cloned.