Not in My Food.org : Know what you're eating
One member of Congress has a question for the restaurants, retailers and processors who sell meat: “What’s in the beef?” And while they’re at it, she wants to know about pork and poultry too.
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) has asked 60 companies to disclose their policies on antibiotic use in meat and poultry. “The US is facing a growing public health crisis in the form of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and information about how these companies are contributing to its rise or resolution should be available to consumers. Very simply, consumers have a right to know what’s in their food.”
The only microbiologist in Congress, Rep. Slaughter knows a thing or two about the kind of public health crisis that can arise from the abuse of antibiotics. She is the author of legislation called PAMTA – the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act – which would prevent agricultural overuse of seven classes of antibiotics important for human health.
A newly-released study this week adds validity to her concerns, documenting the way that feeding antibiotics to livestock is creating antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ in humans. “We’re seeing this one coming,” said one author of the study on the growing trend of resistant infections showing up in humans. “The question is how often will this occur in the future if we don’t start controlling antibiotic use?”
Last year the FDA confirmed that 80% of antibiotics in the US are given to farm animals. The drugs are routinely fed to livestock to prevent the spread of infection, rampant in crowded and often unsanitary living conditions, and are also used as growth promoters.
Think it’s time to end the overuse of antibiotics for meat production? Take your voice straight to the top and add your name to this petition to the White House. After 25,000 people sign on, the Obama Administration will issue an official response.
I support limiting antibiotics fed to animals; we are at risk now and in the near future with antibiotic-resistant organisms.
I support legislation limiting antibiotics fed to animals; we are at risk with antibiotic-resistant organisms.
I agree with this! We need safe practices with our meats.
Each time I log on to the WhiteHouse website, with which I have an active account, I get the message that the site is under maintenance and to try again later. This is very discouraging, as today is not the only day this has occurred.
Sorry about this! We’ve heard from a couple people about this issue. It sounds like the problem is most common when trying to access the website from a smartphone or iPad. If you have a chance to give it another try that would be great.
Don’t eat meat! Period!
It is absolutely a crime against our own populace that it has come to this action at this time. I thought this issue had AT LEAST been taken care of some time ago. All of you who do not think of this as as being important as it is, make yourself a true enemy of the people of the United States of America. This issue should have been looked at, resolved, and put to bed AT LEAST ten years ago.
right
Lets save the antibiotics for human beings and do the right thing for present and future generations to help limit the super bugs. I will never understand how thinking and elected officials can support such bad ideas, where is the conscience?
Thats really crazy. No wonder people are so different now, dont know what all they put in food.
Ladies and Gentlemen you have absolutly no idea what you are talking about. I have spent my life in the dairy industry and the use of antibiotics are to keep the animals healthy. No milk from the animals showing a positive test for antibiotics may be allowed into a dairy plant. The cow must be free and clear from a postive antibiotic test for at least 7 days. That is a USDA and FDA Rule.
The same is true for the beef cattle industry. Beef that is intended for US human consumption must be 100% free of any antiobiotics. I hope this helps you understand the standards in our industry and why there are no super bugs in the food chain. A real danger lies in the Rx industry and over perscribing which does build resistance to viruses.
Finally I wish to point out that several states are beginning to allow the sale of Raw Milk. Please for your safety do not ever drink or eat anything that is made with raw milk. This is milk that is not pasturized and will put your family at risk for samonella and listeria which can be deadly for youngsters and older adults who immune systems are not developed or failing.
Thanks for your response. We’re familiar with the regulations that require antibiotics to clear an animal’s body, and this blog is not referring to antibiotic residues in meat products. We’re talking about the overuse of antibiotics in livestock production that creates resistant pathogens, which have absolutely been documented in our food chain. Humans are most directly exposed to these superbugs when they handle tainted meat or consume undercooked meat.
The petition site is not working. I’m not able to sign it.
It keeps requesting that I sign in, but once I do, I’m redirected elsewhere. When I finally find the petition again … I’m no longer logged in and it requests that I sign in. And the whole process begins again.
This is a new low in germ warfare — breeding superbugs to be used on the American (and world) people in the name of agricultural profits! Clean up the stock-raising pens and that quantity of antibiotics will not be necessary.
Thanks!
I think animals should be raised and slaughtered with respect and humanely; and I think that means no growth hormones and antibiotics.
None of us are going to survive if we don’t learn to stop overusing antibiotics and pesticides. What is so wrong about asking to know what is in the food we eat? It does seem as if we should be ENTITLEDto know exactly we are consuming – especially if it seems that the information is being deliberately withheld from us.
Interesting article!
I find the use of antibiotics in our food apalling, since I am allergic to three (3) families of antibiotics. I have had an antiphalictic reaction to one in particular. Do I have to become a vegetarian? That would really be a kick in the teeth, since I really like meat, fish, chicken, pork, and other sea food.
Germs are smarter than are we. They have been on the Earth longer than us, and will be on it when we we achieve the results of human demise that we are promoting. Stop permitting the beef companies to feed us unnecessary anti-[PRO]-biotics.
I’ve been angry for years at the use of antibiotics used on perfectly healthy cattle and other animals which we eat!!
This is an important subject. How may I participate in petitions or in support of the PAMTA legislation?
Eric Silverman
Thanks for your support on this! First thing you can do is click on the link in the blog and sign the petition to the White House, and then forward the link to other friends that might be willing to sign. We’re trying to hit 25,000 signatures!
The best thing you can do about PAMTA for now is to write your Representative and urge him or her to support this legislation. We’ll keep you posted with updates on the bill, along with other ways you can take action on antibiotics issues in the coming months. Stay tuned!
meat should be safe to us meat eaters
Thank God there is a micro biologist in congress. Now lets convince the rest of congress that the beef industry must stop it’s unethical treatment of humans. By selling us defective beef products. Aka: Factory beef production!
If the food supply increasingly owned and controlled by the corprotocracy was intended to be safe and wholesome it would look alot different. Cows would graze on grass,not wade in feet of manure. Their feed would consist of non gmo grains and hay grown above a non fracked aquifer. It is not intended to be this way though. The food you eat is driven only by maximization of profit, not safety. The people need a countervailing power….as the vast majority of the sheeple sleep. My self, I commit to calling all my congressmen at least two times a month and often more. If all the sleeping sheeple would do the same, we would wake up to a brighter world.
I support limiting antibiotics fed to animals; we are at risk now and in the near future with antibiotic-resistant organisms.
No it happens all the time to me too and I do not use a phone. I have a MacPro, but I do not think that is the problem, since this is the only site where it happens.
Jacoba
This Petition site at White House.gov has been shut down due to insufficient number of signatures. We need to reactivate this issue