Antibiotics! Our food supply is under siege!

With the summer BBQ and grilling season underway, it’s more important than ever to know how your food is being treated before you give it to your family and friends!

The overuse of antibiotics in industrial animal agriculture is creating deadly superbugs. Everyone is at risk — even people who don’t eat meat.

Here’s a chance to talk to Madeleine Kleven about the Safe & Healthy Food Program at FACT (Food Animal Concerns Trust).

ANTIBOTICS AND OUR FOOD

FOOD ANIMAL CONCERNS TRUST (FACT)

Madeleine Klevin

Safe & Healthy Food Program Associate at FACT

https://www.foodanimalconcernstrust.org/

While everyone can get an antibiotic resistant infection, cancer patients, young children, women and those who are immunocompromised are disproportionately impacted by antibiotic resistance.

As a consumer you can choose to purchase meat raised without the routine use of antibiotics and push the market to change.

Currently two-thirds of the antibiotics shared between people and animals are used for use in farming, not to treat sick people. Without significant reductions in the amount of antibiotics used in industrial agriculture as well as human medicine, we can’t preserve these medicines for those in our communities who need them most.

TALKING POINTS:

·        The preventive/routine use of antibiotics in farming leads to dangerous—and sometimes untreatable and deadly—infections in humans.

·        Antibiotics are typically used as a treatment for infection in humans, not for the prevention of infection. Responsible antibiotic stewardship dictates the same approach for animals.

·        Farmers are successfully producing healthy food without the misuse of antibiotics and cancer-causing drugs in the raising of livestock. Support humane farmers by becoming an informed consumer.

·        The FDA has the power and obligation to act on and protect Americans from consuming animal products that pose serious health risks, including antibiotic-resistant infections and cancer. Yet, the FDA is slow to act when it comes to protecting public health but quick to act when it comes to protecting the regulated industry.

·        The FDA should prohibit the use of antibiotics in animals when there is no diagnosed illness or injury requiring use.

·        Industrial livestock operations claim that using antibiotics is critical to increasing production, but the current system is producing more meat than we need. There is no risk that ending the misuse of antibiotics in food animals will lead to scarcity here or around the world.

·        Partnering with and investing in humane farmers is one of the best ways to make a difference in the lives of food-producing animals and in reducing antibiotic overuse.

ABOUT THE TALENT:  Madeleine Kleven, MPH   Safe & Healthy Food Program Associate

Before joining FACT, Madeleine worked in a laboratory setting, researching infectious organisms and their impacts on public health. She completed her graduate degree in public health at UC Berkeley with an emphasis in infectious diseases and vaccinology. Madeleine is a cancer survivor and new mom. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, being outdoors, playing volleyball, and being with her family.