STAT+: Advocacy groups petition FDA to withdraw approval of ‘unsafe’ use of antibiotics given to livestock

More than 60 advocacy groups petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week to withdraw its approval for the use of antibiotics in livestock for disease prevention. The groups argue that this practice is unsafe and contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which pose a significant threat to human health. According to their petition, 34 million pounds of antibiotics are administered to livestock through feed and water for treating diagnosed diseases, but this also facilitates the development of resistance. These resistant bacteria are linked to approximately 35,000 deaths and over 2 million illnesses annually in the United States. Peter Lehner, an attorney at Earthjustice Sustainable Food and Farming, one of the petitioning organizations, stated that the FDA is mandated to ensure animal drugs do not harm humans, yet has permitted this practice to persist despite substantial scientific evidence. The petition highlights the critical need for the FDA to re-evaluate its regulations concerning antibiotic use in animal agriculture to safeguard public health.