As the holidays approach, thoughts inevitably turn to an important part of these celebrations - food, and in particular, turkey. We may also wish to consider the health and environmental impacts of how the meat for our holiday is raised.

Feeding farm animals "large doses of antibiotics on a routine basis can cause antibiotic resistance bacteria such as salmonella and campylobacter to enter our food, resulting in infections that are often difficult and costly to treat with the usual antibiotics," said Jon Rosenblatt, MD, a microbiologist and infectious disease specialist from Rochester, Minnesota.

Because any use of antibiotics can contribute to drug resistance developing among bacteria elsewhere, sustainable meat production helps stem the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance. Consumers can do their own part by purchasing meat raised in this manner.