FDA says there are way too much antibiotics given to meat
On Monday the Food and Drug Administration expressed concerns of the overuse of antibiotics that are given to poultry, cattle, and other animals. The excessive doses used to speed up growth are actually aiding in the creation of bad bacteria. Farmers are being asked to stop giving antibiotics to the animals.
The deputy commissioner, Joshua M. Sharfstein has stated that this is an urgent public issue. In regards to the first step of action, the FDA has put together guidance paperwork. There will be 60 days given to the public to comment on this guidance. The next step will be new regulations, but that is only if the industry does not voluntarily agree to the initial requests.
“We have the regulatory mechanisms, and the industry knows that,” Sharfstein said. “We also think things can be done voluntarily. We’re not handcuffed to the steering wheel of a particular strategy, but I’m not ruling out anything that we can do to establish these important public-health goals.”
In the late seventies the FDA tried to restrict antibiotics, but the attempts were halted continually due to disagreements with the farmer lobby and the pharmaceutical industry. Now over 30 years later the evidence is proving that antibiotic resistant bacteria can be disastrous. Over the past few years, experts in the health field have been studying the amount of bacteria that has become immune to the antibiotics. The studies have that there has been a startling increase which ultimately leads to dangerous and untreatable human illnesses. 
It’s about time something is done for land animals in this country.
Stephanie Stern
West 79th Street
New York NY 10024