Here is a collection of resources that can help you better understand antibiotics and antibiotic resistance.
Q&A: Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance in the Food Supply
The health of animals is very important to the farmers and ranchers who raise them, as well as the veterinarians who work with them. Despite this, animals may still become sick and require treatment, just like people. Read these quick seven questions and answers to learn more about antibiotic use in the food supply.
Timeline Fact Sheet
For more than 50 years, veterinarians and producers have administered antibiotics to food animals, primarily poultry, swine, and cattle, mostly to fight or prevent animal diseases. The FDA has provided a tightly regulated framework on how antibiotics can be used in the food supply. Check out this fact sheet for key dates and events that have helped make our food supply healthier and safer.
Animal Antibiotics: What You Need to Know
Why are antibiotics used in cows? Could they make human antibiotics less effective? Are farms too crowded? How do antibiotics in animals affect the safety of your food? Get all the answers you need with Dr. Morgan Scott, veterinarian and professor at Texas A&M, who explains the use of animal antibiotics in food production and what it means for the meat and dairy you love. Watch the video here.
Setting the Story Straight on “Human Antibiotics” in Animals: Expert Q&A
From company announcements to government reports, there’s more attention than ever on the use of antibiotics in animals, different antibiotic types, and what producers and the FDA are doing to maintain human and animal health. If you want another expert perspective regarding the use of animal antibiotics in animals in text form, then this Q&A is for you. To get more information, we spoke to Justin G. Bergeron, BVMS at the Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Resident, University of Minnesota Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS). Read the Q&A here!
3 Quotes That Stuck with Me from The Atlantic’s “Resistance: The Antibiotics Challenge”
The Atlantic is always putting on great events that are timely and educational. A recent forum at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., addressed the benefits and challenges of using antibiotics. The event had diverse expert views and one cohesive message: more science education is needed to enhance proper understanding of antibiotics usage, while at the same time sustaining ethical treatment of animals. Read on to learn more about this exciting event!
An Ounce of Prevention: Antibiotics in Agriculture
Historically, antibiotics have been used in animal agriculture and human medicine to treat illness, and they have had a remarkable impact on our ability to improve the health of humans and animals alike. However, there are real concerns about the overuse of antibiotics in human and animal medicine, specifically as it relates to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. This article will cover the FDA’s guidance on the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals, as well as the judicious use of antibiotics when used to treat and prevent animal disease.
Improving Public Understanding of Antibiotic Resistance
The IFIC Foundation brought together various stakeholders (veterinarians, physicians and government) and identified opportunities to improve understanding of antibiotic resistance though a roundtable discussion. The group evaluated the global impact of antibiotic usage, the challenges different disciplines encountered, and opportunities to better communicate with the public. Check out this article to get more information from this roundtable discussion.