Action Alert: Stop Animal Antibiotic Abuse

Healthy animals don't need antibiotics, sick people do.

The issue: Nearly 70% of all antibiotics used in the U.S. are fed to healthy animals in their regular rations of feed. And, the overuse of these medications in livestock production has been proven to contribute to antibiotic resistance—a growing 35 billion dollar threat to our health.

Just over a year ago the “Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Use Act” was at the center of a hearing on a supposed crack down of routine uses of the medicines in livestock production. Hopes were high that at least restrictions requiring veterinary professional oversight, if not an outright a ban, were forthcoming. And just a few weeks ago United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) testified before Congress to the definitive link between the overuse of antibiotics in livestock production and the detrimental effects on human health due to antibiotic resistance.

But recent draft guidelines from the FDA on antibiotic use in food-producing animals only recommends steps than can be taken to reduce reliance on the drugs and not enforceable regulations. Although this has been heralded as a step in the right direction, without teeth, these amount to little more than polite suggestions.

Take action: Tell the FDA you support stricter regulations on antibiotics by sending the sample letter provided here. Then support the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Use Act by sending the sample letter provided here.