30 May 2004
GAO report: Feds need to do better at tracking animal antibiotic use

This is another problem with feedlot cattle: they have to be fed "sub-therapeutic" does of antibiotics just ot keep them alive and functioning.

Scientific evidence has shown that certain bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics are transferred from animals to humans through the consumption or handling of meat that contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, researchers disagree about the extent of harm to human health from this transference. Many studies have found that the use of antibiotics in animals poses significant risks for human health, but a small number of studies contend that the health risks of the transference are minimal. Federal agencies have expanded their efforts to assess the extent of antibiotic resistance, but the effectiveness of their efforts to reduce human health risk is not yet known.

(link) [Science Blog]

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