Animal antibiotics

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/24/animal-antibiotics

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One reason for the alarming increase in antibiotic-resistant infections is that antibiotics are routinely given on a massive scale to farmed animals who do not need them ('Apocalyptic' threat posed by antibiotic resistance, 24 January). Figures for the European Union are hard to obtain, but an incredible 80% of antibiotics sold in the United States are used in animals. They are given because they act as growth-promoters and they are given to prevent the spread of infection on overcrowded factory farms. Both these uses are unnecessary: animals should not be forced to grow unnaturally quickly and they should not be kept in such close confinement.

The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food told the UK government in 1999 that "giving antibiotics to animals results in the emergence of some resistant bacteria which infects humans".

This misuse of life-saving drugs should be ended now. <br /><strong>Richard Mountford</strong><br /><em>Animal Aid</em>