FDA urges phasing out of antibiotics in meat

The FDA has produced guidelines for reducing the use of growth-promoting antibiotic drugs for meat-producing animals.

Farming groups have expressed concern that proposals to phase out antibiotics would be costly, which could lead to higher meat prices. The FDA recognized the importance of antimicrobial drugs for both human and animal health, but they should be used less often in order to ensure they remain effective. The drugs include penicillin, tetracycline, macrolides and erythromycin, which are also prescribed to people for fighting illness. Therefore, resistance may be seen as a serious public health threat.

The FDA recommends the use of antimicrobial drugs judgmentally (as treatment), to keep the drug effectiveness and is committed to work with animal drug sponsors, veterinary, public health and animal agriculture communities in developing a practical strategy to ensure antimicrobial effectiveness in both species.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) criticized the FDA guidance, saying it could lead to the elimination or costly review of drugs previously approved for use in livestock and poultry. NPPC stated that the FDA didn’t present any science base data, and that it could have a negative impact on animal health and, therefore, in food safety.

In contrast, Europe banned all antibiotics for use as growth promoters in animal since 2006, and those that are important in human medicine have been banned there since 1998.

Fuente: http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Legislation/FDA-urges-phasing-out-of-antibiotics-in-meat/?c=lSjyRhbvXusGMtoX%2FA1qww%3D%3D&utm_source=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BWeekly

Aporte: Andrea Martín