FDA Taking Steps to Curb Antibiotic Use in Livestock

David Hoffman, writing in a Washington Post opinion piece, notes that the Food and Drug Administration has long wanted to curb the use of antibiotics on farms out of the concern that their overuse will make bactera resistant to the drugs. The agricultural industry has pushed back, especially regarding the use of tetracyclines, antibiotics that are not used in humans as much as it is used in animals. Hoffman notes that "research, by a team that included H. Morgan Scott of Texas A&M University and Guy Loneragan of Texas Tech University, showed that the use of a tetracycline led to 'co-selection,' a process in which the antibiotic expanded the population of bacteria that are resistant to otherantibiotics as well." The FDA now has asked drugmakers to voluntarily stop producing antibiotics for growth promotion and all have agreed. The FDA also will require antibiotic use in livestock to be supervised by veterinarians.