6 Things That May Surprise You About Antibiotics And Your Food

E-I-E-I-O…What you need to know. Dairy veterinarian Dr. Angela King highlights some things you may not know about what you're eating.

Antibiotics and farm animals—what do I need to know? Are they bad or do they keep the food supply healthy? With so much information out there about our food, it is increasingly confusing for us to make decisions at the meat counter, and antibiotic-use in animals is one of the most widely misunderstood farming practices among consumers.

As a livestock veterinarian, I'm as close to a neutral third-party as you can get in this debate and I will tell you honestly—both questions are valid. However, I will also tell you that the farmers and producers I work with everyday are truly committed to optimizing both public health and animal welfare.

Here are 6 things you may not know about the livestock industry, and why I believe responsible antibiotic use on the farm is not only a safe practice, but also a responsible one:

1. Even Old McDonald probably worked with a veterinarian to make sure his animals stayed healthy.

Many consumers may not realize that food producing farms have veterinarians just like myself who are dedicated to taking care of the animals and promoting welfare—however long or short their lifespan. But did you also know we work to protect the health of the public? Every veterinarian in the field has sworn an oath to benefit society not only through the protection of animal health and welfare, but also through promotion of public health. For this reason, we work with farmers to create herd health plans to make sure their herds are protected and treated for disease when necessary.

2. Don’t have a cow, antibiotic use actually prevents animal suffering and protects the food supply.

Responsible antibiotic use on farms prevents animal suffering, protects the food supply and promotes public health. Antibiotics are essential in the prevention and healing of disease, and I hope that most people agree that knowingly putting an animal at risk for illness or allowing them to remain sick when a treatment option is available, is cruel. At the same time, allowing even one animal to become ill without proper preventive treatment puts the entire herd at risk. Veterinarians are critical in making educated decisions to determine if an antibiotic is the appropriate course of action, or if something else may solve the health situation.

3. This little piggy went to market, and there were many safety checkpoints he had to go through to get there.

Multi-step safety measures happen behind the scenes to keep antibiotic residues out of the food supply. Often times, animals that are administered antibiotics are separated from the herd, or tagged so it is clear that they are receiving treatment. Additionally, after livestock animals on food-producing farms are given antibiotics, there is a mandatory wait time that must be observed before that animal is permitted to enter the food supply. Many farms also perform tests just before the product leaves the farm to ensure it is clear of antibiotic residues.

4. The FDA "herd" consumer concerns, and they’re doing something about it.

FDA regulation regarding antibiotic use on farms has increased in the past year, and the entire industry is working to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. In 2013, the FDA kicked its regulation up a notch and published FDA Guidance 213, “The Veterinary Feed Directive.” There are two main goals of this measure: stop the use of antibiotics for non-medical reasons (i.e.: growth promotion) and bring the use of antibiotics under the oversight of a licensed veterinarian. What this means is that the companies who make the antibiotics can change how products are labeled, therefore making it illegal to use products off-label. Despite it being a voluntary measure, 26 out of 26 companies producing drugs for livestock animals have legally signed on to comply with Guidance 213.

5. The livestock industry is moo-ving in the right direction.

Once drug manufacturers voluntarily make the necessary changes to its drug labels, there are no ‘take-backs.’ This collaborative effort is a major step in the direction of preventing antibiotic resistance in humans and protecting the safety of our country’s food supply.

6. Think you know everything there is to know about your food? Don’t count your chickens just yet.

Like I said, there is a lot of information out there about food safety, and some of it is misleading. Be a smart consumer and make sure to do your own research. There are many great resources out there for you to learn more about your food, such as the USFRA’s Food Dialogues. Only you can decide what’s right for you and your family in terms of what you’re putting on your dinner table.

And always remember that there are veterinarians, like me, on the farm looking out for your best interest and the welfare of the animals—even those used in the food supply.