Seventeen organizations have written a letter to Congress, defending the
right of farmers to continue using antibiotics as growth promotants.
“Blanket actions to restrict antibiotic use would actually make our food
system less safe, limit our ability to prevent, control and treat disease and
hurt countless animals,” they said in the letter.
“We do not believe it serves the consumer to stigmatize certain
production systems to boost others,” the organizations said in response to an
article in Consumer Union Reports.
The magazine included the results of a survey that indicates consumers
want meat that’s free of antibiotics.
“We agree there needs to be a dialogue about the use of antibiotics in
farm animals, but we stand firm that antibiotics, when used properly and under
the oversight of a veterinarian, are critical to making safe food,” the letter
said.
The groups did not distinguish between the therapeutic and
sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics.
It’s subtherapeutic ( i.e. growth-promoting) uses that most critics want
banned. Therapeutic uses are veterinary prescriptions to treat bacterial
infections and diseases.
The 17 groups that sent the letter are:
American Association of Bovine Practitioners;
American Association of Small Ruminant
Practitioners;
American Association of Swine Veterinarians;
American Farm Bureau Federation;
American Feed Industry Association;
American Meat Institute;
American Veterinary Medical Association;
Animal Agriculture Alliance;
Animal Health Institute;
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association;
National Chicken Council;
National Grain and Feed Association;
National Milk Producers Federation;
National Pork Producers Council;
National Turkey Federation;
North American Meat Association, and
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.
