U.S. Advisory Council on Antibiotic Resistance Puts the Onus on Veterinarians

CAMERON HARSH, SENIOR MANAGER FOR ORGANIC & ANIMAL POLICY AT CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY

In a meeting focused on antibiotic stewardship, advisors emphasized correcting veterinarian behavior, which lets the food animal industry off the hook.

It may not have the catchiest name, but since 2015, the Presidential Advisory Council on Combatting Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) has been tasked with a critical public health objective: identifying strategies for federal agencies to stop the global spread of antibiotic resistance and preserve the effectiveness of medical treatments. With an estimated 23,000 U.S. deaths each year from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the council has the potential to be a powerful tool in protecting the public.

This Pacific Salmon Lover is Taking a Fresh Look at Farmed Salmon

Sarah Sorscher, Center for Science in the Public Interest

As a Seattle native, I can be a bit snobby about farmed salmon. My family trained me and my brother to avoid “Atlantic” salmon (which is pretty much always farmed), and to look for names like “King,” “Sockeye,” “Chinook,” and “Coho” as a sign that we were getting bona fide Pacific wild-caught fish. Taste mattered to us, but we were also concerned about the environmental and health impact of salmon farming.

National Food Policy Conference Features Expert Panel Discussion of Antibiotics

Thomas Gremillion, Director, Food Policy Institute at Consumer Federation of America

The Consumer Federation of America assembled a panel of experts to discuss “The One Health Approach to Antibiotic Resistance” at its recent 41st Annual National Food Policy Conference. The make-up of the panel illustrates the broad approach that addressing antibiotic resistance requires, and the discussion made clear both the tremendous progress that advocates have made in reducing antibiotic overuse, and the urgent need for much more serious action, particularly in animal agriculture.

Antibiotic Use for Disease Prevention in Animals: A Thematic Paper resulting from the 2nd G7 Chief Veterinary Officers Forum

Susan Vaughn Grooters, MPH, consults for Keep Antibiotics Working regarding consumer advocacy and policy analysis. Susan is also a graduate research associate pursuing a PhD in Veterinary Preventive Medicine.

On October 5th of this last year the 2nd G7 Chief Veterinary Officers Forum took place. At this meeting were the Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and representatives from the European Union, and two intergovernmental organizations – the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). A full agreement was reached on the strategies and commitments for the fight against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and a thematic paper resulted.

Science Deniers of the Chicken Industry Get a Rude Awakening

Austin Wilson, the Environmental Health Program Manager of As You Sow, has kindly allowed Keep Antibiotics Working to share his blog on some of the shareholder activity of his organization.

Although many corporations still pollute waterways and finance shadowy lobbying groups, it’s getting harder for companies to outright deny scientific consensus.

Towards an Evidence-Based Antibiotics Policy

Data collection on antibiotic usage vital to shaping federal policy

Thomas Gremillion, Director, Food Policy Institute at Consumer Federation of America

 

Since January of 2017, FDA’s Guidance 213 no longer allows medically important antibiotics to be used for growth promotion purposes, but how much of an impact has that policy had? What about other efforts to promote more judicious antibiotic use in animal agriculture? Where are farmers and ranchers making the most progress in reducing antibiotic use? What types of animal antibiotic use carry the highest risk of contributing to resistant infections in humans?

The Big Mac Can Make A Big Dent In Stopping Antibiotic Overuse

Matthew Wellington, U.S. PIRG Antibiotics Program Director

Most of us have had a hamburger or two under the golden arches.

But what many don’t know is that most beef in the U.S. is raised on the routine use of medically important antibiotics, a farming practice that’s reducing the effectiveness of our most foundational medicines.

For World Antibiotics Awareness Week: “'Seek Advice' and Raise your Antibiotics IQ”

Cameron Harsh, Senior Manager for Organic & Animal Policy at Center for Food Safety

Thanksgiving is just a week away, and it begs the question: will we still be thankful for antibiotics this time next year?

This week is the World Health Organization’s annual “World Antibiotics Awareness Week” raising global awareness of the antibiotic resistance crisis and encouraging action to preserve the efficacy of important medicines to fight life-threatening infections. 2017’s theme is “Seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional before taking antibiotics.”

New WHO Guideline Offers Hope in Curbing Antibiotics

David Wallinga, MD NRDC Senior Health Officer, Health Program

As antibiotic resistance spreads worldwide, the calls get more urgent to stop squandering our most precious medicines, in both human medicine and in livestock. Released earlier this week are new recommendations from the World Health Organization—the leading international public health authority—on how the medically important antibiotics given to food animals can be used better. They’re especially timely, given that next week is Antibiotic Awareness Week.

All Hands on Deck!

New report highlights the critical role of state and local antibiotics initiatives

Thomas Gremillion, Director, Food Policy Institute at Consumer Federation of America

In a more perfect world, the United States would rival trading partners like Denmark and the Netherlands in developing national policies to curtail animal antibiotic use. In reality, recent federal reforms have yet to yield reductions in use, and public health authorities continue to operate without the most rudimentary data on which drugs are going to which animals.

 

Presidential Council Could Take a Cue from “Big Food” in Antibiotics Leadership

Sarah Sorscher, Center for Science in the Public Interest

Last week, the Presidential Advisory Council on Antibiotic Resistance met for the seventh time. Given the fate of other presidential councils in recent months, the mere fact that the council continues to meet and maintains a working website should be recognized as a minor victory.

Keep Antibiotics Working is staffed by Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT). Learn more at www.foodanimalconcernstrust.org.