Call me a cynic, but I have a hunch this translates to "we're not going to do anything to help human and animal health because the CEOs of large corporations might lose a few dollars."
It’s unlikely the FDA will follow in Europe’s footsteps any time soon. Asked about an EU-style ban on preventive use of antibiotics, an FDA spokesperson responded, “The laws in the US and our livestock population are not the same as that of the EU or other countries. The FDA’s initiatives to promote judicious use and reduce AMR [antimicrobial resistance] were devised specifically for the US and the conditions we face with the aim of maximizing effectiveness and cooperation of drug sponsors, veterinarians, and animal producers.”
Call me a cynic, but I have a hunch this translates to "we're not going to do anything to help human and animal health because the CEOs of large corporations might lose a few dollars."
I normally side with the FDA on this stuff, but yeah. The United States doesn't have special microbes. We need to ban antibiotics use unless it's strictly necessary.
I normally side with the FDA on this stuff, but yeah. The United States doesn't have special microbes. We need to ban antibiotics use unless it's strictly necessary.
Not to mention feedlots and the insane density of farm animals. It’s better in the EU, but we’re still doing crap with e.g. pigs and chickens. But come here to Finnish or French countryside and go...
Not to mention feedlots and the insane density of farm animals. It’s better in the EU, but we’re still doing crap with e.g. pigs and chickens.
But come here to Finnish or French countryside and go for a drive. All you’ll see are herds of 20-50 cows out on green pastures. Majority of farms here, even dairy farms, keep their cattle outside in pastures and feed them primarily grass.
Some are more or less purely grass fed, others have some other feeds mixed in.
All you need to know is consider who funds the research grants for Poultry/Dairy Science programs across the country. While the FDA and USDA do have their interests, several of these research...
All you need to know is consider who funds the research grants for Poultry/Dairy Science programs across the country. While the FDA and USDA do have their interests, several of these research efforts are backed by meat industry giants.
I had a student worker job for my school's Poultry Science Department and boy were they chummy with industry representatives. When your research funding is directly impacted by the interests of industry giants, there is going to be a level of bias in interests. It very much felt like a different form of the good-ole boys club, but for chickens.
A lot of the studies and research efforts focused heavily on how to produce more eggs/meat/chicks/etc. and some of the practices honestly bothered me. While I found a certain humble joy in washing eggs and hatching chicks, it opened my eyes that the welfare of these animals is not top priority. When you simply don't put an effort into the animals themselves, then there won't be any effort in the concerns of those who decide to dine on them.
I know it's not practical for everyone due to rising prices and inflation, but I've tried to reframe meat as a luxury to be revered instead of an everyday convenience. That convenience is why the meat industry is in the state they are today; to supply that demand and so quality has fallen. I try to buy antibiotic free and other welfare-wibbly-wobbly when possible, but I recognize this is a privilege. Instead I wish there was a greater effort to research into how we can accommodate a healthier and more sustainable approach to meat production.
Most of the meat in the USA is from small farms, and antibiotic use is no where near what it is in places like India where it's not regulated at all. Since the pandemic the FDA has cracked down...
Most of the meat in the USA is from small farms, and antibiotic use is no where near what it is in places like India where it's not regulated at all. Since the pandemic the FDA has cracked down even further, you can no longer buy even the weakest drugs for livestock, and requires a rx from a vet. While it is still high, the USA and it's farms are not the ones causing the major issues with bacterial resistance.
There's an actual risk to humanity from the industrial antibiotic usage. And it's not even theoretical, it's already here. Surprised we still can't stop it, given this. Maybe lab grown meat can...
There's an actual risk to humanity from the industrial antibiotic usage. And it's not even theoretical, it's already here.
This is one of the reasons I buy my meat from one farmer at my Farmers Market. No antibiotics, no hog confinement, pasture raised beef, and an open invitation to come to their farm to see their...
This is one of the reasons I buy my meat from one farmer at my Farmers Market. No antibiotics, no hog confinement, pasture raised beef, and an open invitation to come to their farm to see their animals. They do everything in house except for the processing, which is done by a local locker where their meat is not mixed with other producers. They started doing a monthly newsletter bitching about factory farms in the state which is a great read.
Call me a cynic, but I have a hunch this translates to "we're not going to do anything to help human and animal health because the CEOs of large corporations might lose a few dollars."
I normally side with the FDA on this stuff, but yeah. The United States doesn't have special microbes. We need to ban antibiotics use unless it's strictly necessary.
Not to mention feedlots and the insane density of farm animals. It’s better in the EU, but we’re still doing crap with e.g. pigs and chickens.
But come here to Finnish or French countryside and go for a drive. All you’ll see are herds of 20-50 cows out on green pastures. Majority of farms here, even dairy farms, keep their cattle outside in pastures and feed them primarily grass.
Some are more or less purely grass fed, others have some other feeds mixed in.
All you need to know is consider who funds the research grants for Poultry/Dairy Science programs across the country. While the FDA and USDA do have their interests, several of these research efforts are backed by meat industry giants.
I had a student worker job for my school's Poultry Science Department and boy were they chummy with industry representatives. When your research funding is directly impacted by the interests of industry giants, there is going to be a level of bias in interests. It very much felt like a different form of the good-ole boys club, but for chickens.
A lot of the studies and research efforts focused heavily on how to produce more eggs/meat/chicks/etc. and some of the practices honestly bothered me. While I found a certain humble joy in washing eggs and hatching chicks, it opened my eyes that the welfare of these animals is not top priority. When you simply don't put an effort into the animals themselves, then there won't be any effort in the concerns of those who decide to dine on them.
I know it's not practical for everyone due to rising prices and inflation, but I've tried to reframe meat as a luxury to be revered instead of an everyday convenience. That convenience is why the meat industry is in the state they are today; to supply that demand and so quality has fallen. I try to buy antibiotic free and other welfare-wibbly-wobbly when possible, but I recognize this is a privilege. Instead I wish there was a greater effort to research into how we can accommodate a healthier and more sustainable approach to meat production.
Most of the meat in the USA is from small farms, and antibiotic use is no where near what it is in places like India where it's not regulated at all. Since the pandemic the FDA has cracked down even further, you can no longer buy even the weakest drugs for livestock, and requires a rx from a vet. While it is still high, the USA and it's farms are not the ones causing the major issues with bacterial resistance.
There's an actual risk to humanity from the industrial antibiotic usage. And it's not even theoretical, it's already here.
Surprised we still can't stop it, given this.
Maybe lab grown meat can...
This is one of the reasons I buy my meat from one farmer at my Farmers Market. No antibiotics, no hog confinement, pasture raised beef, and an open invitation to come to their farm to see their animals. They do everything in house except for the processing, which is done by a local locker where their meat is not mixed with other producers. They started doing a monthly newsletter bitching about factory farms in the state which is a great read.