Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 6/10/15


More than 20 food industry and industry-related organizations and companies are asking for changes to a fact sheet distributed in the wake of the recent White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship.

The organizations — including the National Chicken Council, North American Meat Institute, National Turkey Federation, National Pork Producers Association and the National Pork Producers Council — want a repeal of the Presidential Food Service commitment to serve “meats and poultry that have not been treated with hormones or antibiotics.”

The group is worried that the specific statement does not reflect what it calls “science-based decision-making,” according to a letter delivered to the White House that was also seen by Meatingplace. The letter calls the statement “inaccurate” in that antibiotics and hormones are not directly applied to retail meat products, although antibiotics may be administered to livestock and poultry to prevent, treat or control disease. 

The letter’s authors — which include animal health and veterinarian groups — also object to references to “hormones,” which they contend are not part of the self-described “antibiotic resistance discussion.” The group contends that current federal laws on the use of antibiotics and hormones in raising animals for human consumption already cover best practices that protect the health of the animals and American consumers.

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