Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 11/18/15


The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and the National Pork Board both have issued statements taking issue with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ report spotlighting the “overuse” of antibiotics in animal agriculture as a major cause of antimicrobial-resistant infections in humans, as well as recent articles on antibiotic use in livestock by Consumer Reports.

“We are disappointed that AAP relied on old data and outdated policies and practices in reaching their conclusions,” said NAMI CEO Barry Carpenter. “We are also surprised that AAP cites a misleading statistic that 80 percent of antibiotics are used in livestock — a claim that has been debunked many times,” including by NAMI in its MythCrusher video series.

“We understand people are confused about the role of antibiotics in meat production and, unfortunately, recently released reports only add to that confusion,” said Jennifer Koeman, a veterinarian and director of producer and public health at National Pork Board. “The meat you eat is safe due to Food and Drug Administration rules on antibiotics and [USDA] testing of meat.”
NAMI pointed out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that “the most acute problem is in hospitals. And the most resistant organisms in hospitals are emerging in those settings, because of poor antimicrobial stewardship among humans.”

The National Pork Board said it is implementing a three-point plan of action focused on five research priorities, shaping educational outreach to pig farmers and broadly sharing information with the retail and foodservice industries and pork consumers.

"Calls for food-animal farmers to stop using antibiotics to prevent diseases are ill-advised and wrong," said the National Pork Producers' Council, in a statement. "Denying pigs, cows and chickens necessary antibiotics would be unethical and immoral, leading to animal suffering and possibly death, and could compromise the nation’s food system."

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