Factory farms

Antibiotics and Fish Farming

This fact sheet provides an overview of antibiotics used in industrial fish and shrimp farming.

Mad Cow and the Agony of the Cattle and Beef Markets

Can a country have "less than two (BSE) cases per million (cattle) during each of the last four consecutive 12 month periods" and still be considered a "minimal risk country" for purposes of international trade and not put public health at risk? This paper takes a hard look at the subject, including how the USDA fits into the equation.  

Does Misuse of Antibiotics in Food Animals Threaten Human Health?

Point/Counterpoint article in APUA newsletter, Vol. 22, No. 2., published by the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, asking the question "Does Misuse of Antibiotics in Food Animals Threaten Human Health?"  

Antibiotic Use in Animals Must be Curbed

In his recent letter, "Current data show food safe from animal antibiotics," John Fisher of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation left out some key points.

Poultry on Antibiotics: Hazards to Human Health

The first study to examine brand-name poultry products prominent in grocery stores for the presence of multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including resistance to important antibiotics relied upon to treat human infections like Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Synercid, and Tetracycline. This report is a joint effort by the Sierra Club and IATP.  

Trade, Agriculture and Climate Change

As the world's nations consider strategies to tackle climate change, little attention has been given to the intersection of energy intensive industrial agriculture and global distribution systems combined with trade agreements.

Antimicrobial Use in Animal Feed: An Ecological and Public Health Problem

Antibiotics arguably constitute one of the most important medical discoveries of the last century. Unfortunately, many antibiotics now are rapidly losing effectiveness as bacteria increasingly acquire resistance to multiple medicines. Routine feeding of antibiotics to animals raised for food promotes overuse and is one of the key drivers contributing to antibiotic resistance.

IATP Report on Antibiotic Use in U.S. Aquaculture

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy released a report on March 21 by Dr. Charles Benbrook entitled Antibiotic Drug Use in U.S. Aquaculture. The report estimates that 204,000 to 433,000 pounds of antibiotics are used annually in the production of seafood sold in the U.S. This includes antibiotics from the same classes that doctors depend on for treating sick humans.

Group Letter to Poultry Producers on Antibiotics Used in Poultry Production

This letter was included in a packet of information sent to poultry producers urging them to reduce antibiotic use and contained the names of the major restaurant chains who will no longer buy poultry raised on antibiotics and poultry producers who have publicly stated they will no longer use medically important antibiotics in production.  

Antibiotic Resistance Threat Spurs National Campaign to End Drug Overuse

Press release announcing the launch of Keep Antibiotics Working: The Campaign to End Antibiotics Overuse.