Do Americans really know what lurks in the meat they consume? For, many decades corporations have turned raising animals for human consumption into a multibillion dollar business. Big business has no concern for the animals or the humans they feed, their whole motive is to make the product cheaper and sell it at the highest price they can. The result is an unsafe product, treacherous work place, and horrid conditions for the animals. How can this happen; how can Americans be so oblivious to know that the meat they eat can one day kill them? By looking at drug resistant superbugs, one can see the overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture in the United States has led to the ineffectiveness of antibiotics.
In the U.S., antibiotics are …show more content…
The reason “bacteria become resistant to antibiotics through overexposure to them. Hardy strains of the bacteria survive the exposure and pass on that resistance trait to successive generations” (UCSUSA). By exposing bacteria to the antibiotic repetitively the bacteria become immune, because not all the bacteria are killed and the trait is passed on leading to genetic resistance. The bacteria spread by “hitch{ing} a ride out of animal feedlots on workers who handle contaminated animals or meat. They can travel through the water, soil, and air that come into contact with contaminated animal waste” (NRDC). Microscopic particles are able to travel various ways, spreading the immune pathogens. All most all humans are oblivious that these microbes surround them. In 2005 the food industry “use{d} in poultry of fluoroquinolones, a precious class of antibiotics, led to the development of resistant Campylobacter strains. The FDA recognized the seriousness of the threat and banned fluoroquinolones from veterinary use” (UCSUSA). This is one of the few times the government regulated FDA stepped in, which is a surprise. The result of feeding animals antibiotics results in a weaker and possible ineffective …show more content…
In Europe, the genetic resistance isn’t as big of a problem. In fact the drug penicillin is still has a major role in healing people. But in the U.S. the drug is ineffective because it was used as a cure all drug. But there are other ways to reduce resistance; “such methods might include reducing overcrowding, controlling heat stress, providing vaccination to prevent disease, and using beneficial microbial cultures” (UCSUSA). By giving the animals a stable and human environment, not as many vaccinations would need to be used. Resulting in less resistance from the bacteria, which is beneficial to the American people. However, “the most sensible approach is to identify and reduce nonessential uses of antibiotics and reserve as many of these drugs as possible for wise use in human and veterinary medicine” (UCSUSA). If the FDA set strict regulations, this issue would be solved very easily, but with the power of the food industry will not make it easy. In addition, “the FDA has asked drug companies to voluntarily phase out antibiotics used to promote growth in animals” (Tracy). The FDA has asked to reduce the use of antibiotics, but no one will list because it reduces profit. The FDA needs a wakeup call and restrict the use of antibiotics or else the results will be destructive to human
In the U.S., antibiotics are …show more content…
The reason “bacteria become resistant to antibiotics through overexposure to them. Hardy strains of the bacteria survive the exposure and pass on that resistance trait to successive generations” (UCSUSA). By exposing bacteria to the antibiotic repetitively the bacteria become immune, because not all the bacteria are killed and the trait is passed on leading to genetic resistance. The bacteria spread by “hitch{ing} a ride out of animal feedlots on workers who handle contaminated animals or meat. They can travel through the water, soil, and air that come into contact with contaminated animal waste” (NRDC). Microscopic particles are able to travel various ways, spreading the immune pathogens. All most all humans are oblivious that these microbes surround them. In 2005 the food industry “use{d} in poultry of fluoroquinolones, a precious class of antibiotics, led to the development of resistant Campylobacter strains. The FDA recognized the seriousness of the threat and banned fluoroquinolones from veterinary use” (UCSUSA). This is one of the few times the government regulated FDA stepped in, which is a surprise. The result of feeding animals antibiotics results in a weaker and possible ineffective …show more content…
In Europe, the genetic resistance isn’t as big of a problem. In fact the drug penicillin is still has a major role in healing people. But in the U.S. the drug is ineffective because it was used as a cure all drug. But there are other ways to reduce resistance; “such methods might include reducing overcrowding, controlling heat stress, providing vaccination to prevent disease, and using beneficial microbial cultures” (UCSUSA). By giving the animals a stable and human environment, not as many vaccinations would need to be used. Resulting in less resistance from the bacteria, which is beneficial to the American people. However, “the most sensible approach is to identify and reduce nonessential uses of antibiotics and reserve as many of these drugs as possible for wise use in human and veterinary medicine” (UCSUSA). If the FDA set strict regulations, this issue would be solved very easily, but with the power of the food industry will not make it easy. In addition, “the FDA has asked drug companies to voluntarily phase out antibiotics used to promote growth in animals” (Tracy). The FDA has asked to reduce the use of antibiotics, but no one will list because it reduces profit. The FDA needs a wakeup call and restrict the use of antibiotics or else the results will be destructive to human