Overwhelming Majority of Doctors Concerned About Use of Antibiotics in Healthy Livestock
by Consumers Union, press release
Photo credit: Gajda-13
The overwhelming majority of doctors — 93 percent—are concerned about the common meat industry practice of using antibiotics on healthy animals for growth promotion and disease prevention, according to a new poll released today by Consumer Reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many other public health organizations have warned that the misuse of antibiotics on healthy livestock is making these medications less effective for treating disease in people.
Several consumer and public health organizations have joined forces to address this issue. Poll results, analysis, and policy recommendations are available in a new report, Prescription For Change [PDF], collaborative effort that includes Consumers Union, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Health Care Without Harm, USPIRG, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Physicians Alliance, and Healthy Food Action. Media events are taking place today in eight cities around the country, including Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago to call on large institutions and supermarket chains to help end the overuse of antibiotics in livestock.
Tags: Antibiotics, Medical Issues