ASCI 001: Introductory Animal Sciences - Kerr/Kinghorn (Fall 2017): Antibiotic Use in Livestock Feed

Topic background: “Meat producers have fed growth-promoting antibiotics to food animals for years. Recently, scientists have raised concerns that, in conjunction with the general overuse of antibiotics in humans, this use of 'sub-therapeutic' levels of antibiotics in food animal may lead to serious health risks for people. Banning the use of such drugs, however, would greatly reduce the efficiency of the industry, driving up the cost of meat. Some in the industry believe that the scientific evidence linking low-dose usage of antibiotics to drug-resistant illnesses in people is too inconclusive and does not justify banning their use.”

Source: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/safe/, 7/29/13

• Pro: Antibiotic use for promoting growth in the meat industry should be allowed to continue since it poses no threat to human health.
• Con: Antibiotic use for promoting growth in the meat industry should be banned because it poses a threat to human health.