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Statement by the Animal Agriculture Alliance Coalition on Antimicrobial Resistance
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Farmers, ranchers and veterinarians take this issue of antimicrobial resistance very seriously. Nothing is more important to us than public health, animal health and well-being and a safe food supply. If a problem existed, those most likely to be affected are those of us who work on the farm and our families.
Although most scientists agree that improper use of antibiotics in human medicine is the greatest contributing factor in the formation of resistant bacteria affecting humans, the government, animal health industry, farmers and ranchers have implemented multiple steps to ensure antibiotic use in food producing animals does not affect human health.
Antibiotic use practices in food animals is based on years of veterinary directives, practical experience, scientific analyses, and risk assessments that work to ensure both animal health and public health.
Key Points
- Animal agriculture has a long standing commitment to protect the health and safety of our animals, our families, our employees, and consumers
- The FDA rigorously reviews all antibiotics prior to approval and then conducts a stringent post-approval risk assessment
- The FDA requires specific withdrawal times for antibiotics to ensure all meat, milk and eggs in the food supply are antibiotic-free
- Antibiotics are used to treat, prevent and control disease and to increase nutritional efficiency, providing environmental benefits
- Responsible use of antibiotics is crucial to ensuring the well-being of animals and consumers
- Numerous public and private systems are established for early detection of antimicrobial resistance with control measures
- The agricultural community has gone beyond the legal requirements of safe antibiotic use & created guidelines for producers to ensure antibiotics are used effectively to control and treat animal disease while safeguarding public health.
Read more. (PDF, 130 KB)
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