Reduction of Antibiotic Use in Chickens Falls Short

February 20, 2002

2.19.2002 00:04

Playing chicken

It is encouraging to learn that three top U.S. chicken suppliers are

voluntarily trying to reduce their use of antibiotics. But their actions,

while commendable, fall short of what needs to be done.

For some time, U.S. meat and poultry producers have been feeding antibiotics

to animals to boost their growth, as well as to treat sickness. By putting

millions of pounds of antibiotics into circulation each year, they have

diminished the drugs' effectiveness. Bacteria have grown resistant. The

problem is compounded when germs begin to resist related antibiotics used on

people, which has been happening.

According to a recent New York Times report, Perdue Farms, Tyson Foods and

Farms say they are cutting the amounts or changing the types of

antibiotics they feed to chickens. The three companies produce about a third

of the chickens on American tables.

Unfortunately, the companies' actions cannot be documented. But even if they

have dramatically scaled back use, that still leaves most of the chicken in

America subject to the antibiotic regime. (The exception is organic chicken,

which must be antibiotic-free to earn the label.) The story is the same for

beef, pork and other meats.

Protecting the efficacy of antibiotics used on humans is no small matter.

The anthrax scare in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks had countless

Americans eager to ingest the antibiotic Cipro. But Baytril, a very similar

drug, is widely used on U.S. chickens, and threatens Cipro's effectiveness.

Despite pressure from public health groups and (recently) the Food and Drug

Administration, manufacturer Bayer A.G. refuses to stop selling it. This

drug should be banned.

Limits on other antibiotics should be weighed as well. Three years ago, the

European Union banned feeding antibiotics to animals to promote growth. It

now closely regulates use of those related to human medicine. The United

States can and should adopt a similar approach.

The anthrax scare was our wake-up call. It is pleasant to think some chicken

suppliers might now want to do the right thing. But the nation would be

gravely remiss if it left this matter to corporate good will alone.

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