FDA Works to Remove Antibiotics from Meat

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently announced a plan to phase out certain antibiotics used in meat production.

According to a news release from the organization, antibiotics may often be added to foods or water and then given to commercial "cattle, hogs, poultry and other producing animals," in order to make them grow at a faster rate. However, the health organization notes that this may also cause animals to grow with less feed and nutrition.

"We need to be selective about the drugs we use in animals and when we use them," William Flynn, DVM, MS, deputy director for science policy at FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), said, via the release. "Antimicrobial resistance may not be completely preventable, but we need to do what we can to slow it down."

The overuse of antibiotics can create dangerous mutations that may lead to antimicrobial resistance, which has been called a "major threat to public health," according to the release.

At this time, the FDA is working to take action against using "medically important" drugs for routine use in hopes of preventing a scenario that causes antibiotic treatments to no longer be effective in humans.

The FDA also issued a final guidance document for animals pharmaceutical companies that urges them to voluntarily remove the approval of growth enhancement and feed efficiency indications that could be used when not medically necessary. They have also asked that some of the antimicrobials be stripped of their over-the-counter status and made available only under veterinarian supervision.

"This action promotes the judicious use of important antimicrobials, which protects public health and, at the same time, ensures that sick and at-risk animals receive the therapy they need," CVM Director Bernadette Dunham, DVM, Ph.D., said. "We realize that these steps represent changes for veterinarians and animal producers, and we have been working to make this transition as seamless as possible.

American pharmaceutical companies are working to notify the FDA of their intent to follow the guidelines over the next three months.

"Based on our outreach, we have every reason to believe that animal pharmaceutical companies will support us in this effort," Michael R. Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine said.

What is your opinion on antibiotic use in the meat industry?