We at ACSH have been writing about the dire situation we face because of antibiotic resistance for years. Both Dr. Josh Bloom and ACSH advisor Dr. David Shlaes a world renowned expert in the field have written many times about the looming antibiotic crisis, a time when common infections that were previously treatable are no longer so
growth promoters
The very touchy issue of whether antibiotic use in livestock (they act as growth promoters) should be banned has come up once again in today s Wall Street Journal. Although research and development in the antibiotic field has come back to life, thanks in no small part to ACSH advisor Dr. David Shlaes, it is not nearly enough to make up for the twenty-year hole in the pipeline caused mainly by a terrible policy change at the FDA.
A long-running controversy has reared its head again whether or not antibiotics should be added to animal feed to promote the growth of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.
This time, the FDA is considering whether to ban this practice, although they are only talking about voluntary compliance at this time.
As would be expected, opinions vary widely, with farmers on one side and various medical and non-governmental organizations, and individuals on the other.