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Do Antibiotics In Your Food Make A Difference?

There’s been a lot of talk lately about the presence of antibiotics in our food and whether or not this poses a serious health risk. In fact, antibiotic-fed animals are just one of the common reasons many people are turning to vegetarianism and veganism. If you’re wondering what all the hype is about, here are three distinct reasons why you should definitely care if antibiotics have snuck their way into your food.

They’re Bad for You

Antibiotics remain one of medicine’s biggest breakthroughs. Without their invention, many common illnesses that are now easily treated with antibiotics would have devastating consequences, and life expectancies would likely plummet. However, too much of a good thing can very quickly turn into a bad thing, and that’s exactly what’s happening with the misuse of antibiotics in the food industry.

According to a recent collaborative report, Chain Reaction III, an astounding 70 percent of all antibiotics essential in modern medicine are sold for use in animal agriculture. That means that every time you eat an animal product that contains these antibiotics, you’re increasing the risk of antibiotic resistance to human medications.

Over time, the organisms that antibiotics have been developed to fight become resistant to the antibiotic’s effects. Diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria will no longer respond to treatment using these same medications and therefore pose a serious public health threat (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In short, many life-saving drugs no longer work well, and there’s no end in sight.

They’re Bad for the Animals

So why are antibiotics being fed to farm animals in the first place? That brings us to the second point: that antibiotics in your food is ultimately horrible news for the animals. Antibiotics allow food animals to survive deplorable living conditions. The vast majority of animals raised for slaughter live in overcrowded, unsanitary, and unnatural conditions. 

It’s no surprise, then, that arguments against the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture are often met by backlash from those in the industry. Even if they are knowingly contributing to a global health problem, producers make choices that protect their individual interests. 

They’re Bad for the Environment

With the two-trillion TONS of waste that comes from animal production, it is difficult to determine the amount of undigested antibiotics, antibiotic metabolites and strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are contaminating the soil, water, and surrounding ecosystems. 

So What’s the Solution?

One of the most difficult things about this widespread problem is that it’s very easy to simply ignore. But even though we may not see it happening, we are aware of its effects. Health care professionals are scrambling to find alternatives, create mitigating protocols and develop alternative treatments. You can do your part by identifying and supporting the fast food chains that have taken a stance against using antibiotic-fed animal products in their restaurants. The Chain Reaction III report mentioned above has a wonderful outline of the common fast food chains and their “grade” based on whether or not they participate in this large-scale mission to slow antibiotic resistance.

From the medical perspective, a review published in Public Health Reports points to a need for a larger investment in the development of new antibiotics to help counteract this concern. However, without a change in the food supply policies, it’s likely just a matter of time before new strains of resistant bacteria form against the new antibiotics.

It’s possible to change this dynamic. Choose wisely and encourage others to make healthy choices. They may be motivated for themselves, the animals, the environment or the future. Support those who are raising or using antibiotic-free meat, reduce your personal consumption, and adopt a proactive mindset. The bottom line: you owe it to yourself, the animals, and the environment to care about and take a stance against antibiotics in your food. 

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