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Hospitals, Denmark ban “support” antibiotic bill

Ahead of today’s hearing on a House bill restricting livestock antibiotic use – the group Health Care Without Harm, the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming and others joined Congresswoman Louise Slaughter – the bill’s sponsor. Slaughter said the overuse of antibiotics in animals is responsible for dangerous and growing antibiotic resistance in humans.

Jamie Harvie, with the Institute for a Sustainable Future, laid the blame for the nation’s health problems at the feet of “industrialized” ag producers.

“As the president’s cancer panel highlighted about one month ago, for our health we should seek out and choose organic foods,” said Harvie.

“Agricultural antibiotics overuse and its contribution to resistance offer a similar example.”

Harvie said that’s why more than 300 hospitals have pledged to only buy meat raised with “sustainable practices” – such as the therapeutic-only use of antibiotics. No scientific studies directly linking antibiotic resistance to meat consumption were named.

Pew Campaign veterinarian Dr. Gail Hansen agrees with Slaughter and others  that Denmark’s ban on the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock is a resounding success.  They ponit to a decrease in antimicrobial resistance and an increase in swine herds.

Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming – news conference call (56 min. MP3)