To: President Donald Trump
Stop the Overuse of Antibiotics in Farming
Ban the overuse and misuse of antibiotics on factory farms
Why is this important?
Antibiotics are meant to be prescribed by medical professionals, in controlled doses. But right now, eighty percent of antibiotics are used on farms, and the bulk of that on healthy animals, administered through the animals’ feed. It’s done to promote growth and prevent illness, allowing animals to be kept in confined spaces that fall short on cleanliness. This overuse and misuse of antibiotics contributes to the growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, making it harder and harder to treat infections and save lives. Every year, 23,000 people die from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and other leading medical groups all warn that the routine use of antibiotics in food animals presents a serious and growing threat to human health.
President Obama’s administration can take action to ban the overuse and misuse of antibiotics on factory farms. But to convince them to act, we need to raise the voices of medical professionals all across the country.
The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and other leading medical groups all warn that the routine use of antibiotics in food animals presents a serious and growing threat to human health.
President Obama’s administration can take action to ban the overuse and misuse of antibiotics on factory farms. But to convince them to act, we need to raise the voices of medical professionals all across the country.