Re-posted from healthyfoodaction.org

Tell FDA and Big Pharma – Don’t leave us in the Dark!  Safeguard antibiotics by disclosing use in livestock and poultry production 

Every year, nearly 30 million pounds of antibiotics are used in livestock and poultry in the U.S. — four times the amount prescribed for treating infections in people. Around half these antibiotics are nearly identical to human drugs.

This huge and unnecessary use of antibiotics in food animals creates the perfect breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant superbugs that can spread back to vets, to food handlers, to consumers and to farmers.That’s about all we know, unfortunately. Along with the rest of the public, health professionals remain in the dark about information critically important to our patients and to the public’s health.

The FDA is currently accepting comments on what additional information it should collect and then publicly report from the drug, meat and animal feed industries. The FDA urgently needs to hear from you before Monday, November 26th.  We need more data on animal antibiotic sales and use to be reported so that public health officials can help track and stop these dangerous superbugs where they start.

Act Now: Tell the FDA to make livestock and poultry antibiotic use public!