Statement from NPPC on GAO’s Report on Antibiotic Resistance

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Beef, Cattle, Florida, General, Georgia, Livestock, Pork

Here a statement from NPPC President Doug Wolf on GAO’s Report on Antibiotic Resistance:

“Not only is there no scientific study linking antibiotic use in food animals to antibiotic resistance in humans, as the U.S. pork industry has continually pointed out, but there isn’t even adequate data to conduct a study.

“The GAO report on antibiotic resistance issued today confirms this, concluding that the limited data collected ‘lack crucial details necessary to examine trends and understand the relationship between use and resistance.’

“The pork industry long has supported the federal antibiotic-resistance monitoring program.

“Further, pork producers use antibiotics responsibly under veterinary supervision to keep their hogs healthy and to produce safe pork. They follow use and withdraw protocols set by FDA, which approves all animal health products after rigorously testing them to ensure their safety for animals, humans and the environment.”

September 14, 2011