"farm animals" news and stories

Whether it was baked chicken or a grilled steak, it's likely that the meat you had for dinner last night contained an array of pharmaceuticals. Alarmed by potential drug resistance in both animals and in humans, on Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration called for more judicious use of antimicrobial drugs in the production of animals raised for food.

Antimicrobial drugs were introduced to industrial farming more than 50 years ago as a way to prevent disease in animals. But the FDA is concerned that many of the drugs have lost their effectiveness due to the development of drug-resistant microbial strains. The government agency wants meat producers to stop using the drugs to boost production and promote growth.

"Limiting the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals only for assuring animal health. Unfortunately, many operations use antimicrobials to increase production, or to produce larger animals, which contributes to the misuse of the drugs and raises the possibility of antibiotic resistance," FDA officials said in a statement.

For many shoppers, knowing that their food is organic is important. They don't like the idea of their food being treated with chemicals and other unknown substances before it reaches them. These same shoppers' interest in their food now extends all the way back to the farm - and not just for vegetables and fruits. The movement for seeing "certified humane" labeling on animal products is gaining popularity.

The label originated in 2003, when the nonprofit Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) developed a set of standards by which the quality of life and care for farm animals could be judged and designed a label to bring that standard of care to public attention. The USDA verifies the process. The "Certified Humane Raised & Handled" label means that a producer has passed inspection and certifies that their meat, poultry, egg and/or dairy animals are raised to humane care standards. Standards require that the animals have access to clean water and sufficient food and live in a comfortable environment, protected from the elements in inclement weather but with plenty of room to move and exercise naturally. Caretakers must also be trained in animal husbandry and welfare, and there is a prohibition on growth hormones and antibiotics.

 

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