FDA’s First Move Against Livestock Antibiotic Dosing

2012 begins with a little hope for improved livestock production - The FDA announced that it will set policies to limit the use of the antibiotic cephalosporins in animal food production by banning the extra label (ie: unapproved) use of the drug. 

While any showing by the FDA to limit antibiotic use is good, the class of cephalosporins only represents less than 0.25% of antibiotic use in farm animal production. A drop in the bucket considering that over 70% of antibiotics consumed in the US are fed or given to farm animals - representing a market currently worth over US$8B.

Industry interests in the pharmaceutical sector are clear, but that number doesn’t touch on the billions raked in by companies whose meat production practices rely on heavy antibiotic doses used in animal farming in the name of food safety.

Still, as the Pew Trust applauds, it is still a step in the right direction.