Twenty major livestock organizations, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and three major veterinary associations, have sent a letter to the White House requesting expert risk assessment before disallowing sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in food-producing animals.
“The White House must be aware removing antibiotics from on-farm use may jeopardize or seriously complicate President Obama’s food safety positions,” they write.
It points to Europe as an example: “Action to ban some uses of certain antimicrobial products and restrict the use of others failed…. Several European countries are documenting a significant increase in animal diseases—many not seen in Europe in 20 years—and an increase in the use of antibiotics by veterinarians to treat those diseases.”
The full text of the letter can be accessed here.
