In the United States, the issue of antibiotic resistance due to the potential link with meat consumption has become a problem. Dating back to around 1950, scientists started to find causes of antibiotic resistance present in humans. One major factor is that the antibiotics fed to animals are being transferred to humans through meat consumption. There were several cases of major outbreaks due to human bodies being resistant to a strain of bacteria. There have been a handful of evidence linking the cause to antibiotics fed to animals. Many argue that the government is not regulating the amount of antibiotics animals receive which leads to extreme cases of antibiotic resistance. Although many fight for stronger regulations, farmers disagree that
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The epidemic shocked many. Since there was not a treatment to fight off this infection, many people got extremely ill or even died. For many areas around the world, the antibiotic methicillin had been used to treat illnesses. Resistance to this antibiotic developed which caused problems because the antibiotic was used to treat infections. Although there was a new antibiotic developed, vancomycin, because it could fight against the resistant bacteria, resistance to this antibiotic had also occurred (Silbergeld and Walker). The link was said to be, “created through the misuse and overuse of antibiotics” (Silbergeld and Walker). It was determined by scientists that the amount of antibiotics used among individuals had caused resistance which, as seen, can be very dangerous and cause more infection outbreaks. The misuse of antibiotics occurred when, “[doctors] prescribe[d] antibiotics for almost all illnesses, even those caused by viruses. Since viruses are not affected by antibiotics, this approach only served to exert a selection pressure favoring the development of resistance on the bacteria already present” (Silbergeld and Walker). This distribution of antibiotics only caused resistance to happen at a greater …show more content…
One rule that many meat consumers would agree upon is for these companies to keep a record of the exact amount of antibiotics distributed to each animal because since records as of December 13th, no one is held accountable for these records, but would definitely be beneficial (Molloy). In 2010, the data showed that there was more than 63,000 tons of antibiotics fed to antibiotics around the world which is one of the reasons to why regulations are necessary. What farmers can do to show which animals are being fed these antibiotics is keep accurate records of everything they give to animals. Within the United States, “Stuart B. Levy, M.D., who has studied the subject for years, estimates that there are 15-17 million pounds of antibiotics used...to animals for therapeutic reasons” (“Antibiotic Debate”). Although there are so many pounds of antibiotics used, the distributer of these meat products, “do[n’t] publicize its use of antibiotics, so accurate information on the amount of antibiotics given to food animals is hard to come by” (“Antibiotic Debate”). If industries started to show the amount of antibiotics they give to treat animals, more people would be much more aware of what they are eating and prevent any unnecessary and unwanted resistance to
The epidemic shocked many. Since there was not a treatment to fight off this infection, many people got extremely ill or even died. For many areas around the world, the antibiotic methicillin had been used to treat illnesses. Resistance to this antibiotic developed which caused problems because the antibiotic was used to treat infections. Although there was a new antibiotic developed, vancomycin, because it could fight against the resistant bacteria, resistance to this antibiotic had also occurred (Silbergeld and Walker). The link was said to be, “created through the misuse and overuse of antibiotics” (Silbergeld and Walker). It was determined by scientists that the amount of antibiotics used among individuals had caused resistance which, as seen, can be very dangerous and cause more infection outbreaks. The misuse of antibiotics occurred when, “[doctors] prescribe[d] antibiotics for almost all illnesses, even those caused by viruses. Since viruses are not affected by antibiotics, this approach only served to exert a selection pressure favoring the development of resistance on the bacteria already present” (Silbergeld and Walker). This distribution of antibiotics only caused resistance to happen at a greater …show more content…
One rule that many meat consumers would agree upon is for these companies to keep a record of the exact amount of antibiotics distributed to each animal because since records as of December 13th, no one is held accountable for these records, but would definitely be beneficial (Molloy). In 2010, the data showed that there was more than 63,000 tons of antibiotics fed to antibiotics around the world which is one of the reasons to why regulations are necessary. What farmers can do to show which animals are being fed these antibiotics is keep accurate records of everything they give to animals. Within the United States, “Stuart B. Levy, M.D., who has studied the subject for years, estimates that there are 15-17 million pounds of antibiotics used...to animals for therapeutic reasons” (“Antibiotic Debate”). Although there are so many pounds of antibiotics used, the distributer of these meat products, “do[n’t] publicize its use of antibiotics, so accurate information on the amount of antibiotics given to food animals is hard to come by” (“Antibiotic Debate”). If industries started to show the amount of antibiotics they give to treat animals, more people would be much more aware of what they are eating and prevent any unnecessary and unwanted resistance to