By now, most people know that antibiotics are used by the ton in the production of U.S. meat--not because animals are sick but because less food is required when animals are given the drugs so meat producers make a greater profit.
Despite new antibiotic regulations in 2013 and more recently, antibiotic use in farm operations is actually going up not down.
Last year I asked Senior Staff Scientist at Consumers Union Dr. Michael Hansen how the 2013 FDA guidance (asking Pharma to voluntarily restrict livestock antibiotics by changing the approved uses appearing on labels) was working out. Dr. Hansen told me “growth production” had been removed from labels but the drugs are still routinely used for the new indication of “disease prevention.”
Food animals are routinely given antifungal drugs and vaccines.
