As it turns out, this whole bit about the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry is a complex issue. It’s well beyond anything that anyone would guess at first blush. The best online summary is the position paper put out by Food Marketing Institute. Curiously enough, it doesn’t have a year on it. Based on the references, I’d guess it was probably around 2005.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of therapeutically low doses of antibiotics in feed. However, very few studies were conducted. They decided that giving little bits of antibiotics to animals would help avoid illness. What this means in practical life is that they will grow faster and produce more meat prior to being slaughtered and eaten.
Everybody agrees that using too many antibiotics in humans can cause humans to become resistant to those antibiotics. This has been blamed on everything from patients who want a prescription for an illness that isn’t caused by bacteria to doctors feeling they need to give a prescription to justify their fee. This kind of talk has been around for a long time. Read more on Antibiotics in Livestock Feed Endanger The Entire World…
Filed under medicine, News, prescription drugs by on Sep 23rd, 2012. 1 Comment. 
Cute but deadly E. Coli
Subscribers to my newsletter got to read my inside information and some exclusive insights on the E. Coli disaster that is devastating Germany.
But you can read this and other special material that isn’t included in my blog just by signing up for my free newsletter.
The nice Internet Fairies drop it into your email box approximately once a week and they jealously guard your personal information so no mean old spammers will get it.
Of course, as with all ethical and reputable newsletters, it’s easy to unsubscribe any time you get bored with piercing insights into hot topics, interesting oddities of the medical-legal world and the unique opinions of a Renegade Doctor.
I use my brain to give your brain a treat, so if it sounds like something you can wrap your neurons around, go sign up.
PS — there are links to all the back issues you’ve missed. You can find out what I advised about taking Omega-3 Fish Oil supplements, or the puzzling celiac disease that causes so many symptoms and is so easy to treat, or how you can be your own shrink with EFT.
Here’s a handy link to opt-in. Please do it today — I’d love to see your eyes scanning my newsletter next week!
Estelle Toby Goldstein, MD
The Renegade Doctor
Filed under Disease by on Jun 12th, 2011. Comment.