FDA Plans to Ban Antibiotics in Food-Producing Livestock

The FDA admitted that, “Because antimicrobial drug use in both humans and animals can contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance, it is important to use these drugs only when medically necessary.” While this truism is not new to most people, it’s important that the FDA is now catching on and planning to take action, as they’ve been under pressure from consumer groups and members of Congress. Drug makers have 90 days to say whether they’ll comply, and then three years to do something.

Restaurants including McDonald’s have already begun transitioning away from antibiotic-treated meat— that is animals that were treated with antibiotics for growth purposes. Tyson Foods also launched a line of antibiotic-free fresh and frozen poultry products and supports “responsible use” of antibiotics by its purveyors.