Written by B.T. Hill   

Despite massive public outcry over the course of almost 2 decades, the FDA did a panic stop on Wednesday on the antibiotic cephalosporin. A drug-resistant form of Salmonella sickened 19 people who ate ground beef purchased from the Hannaford’s, a grocery chain which operates in New York, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont. The suspect meat was sold from October 12 and December 10th.

Just last week I posted an article that the FDA –AGAIN– had backed down on antibiotic use. After this latest incident, I hope they will immediately reconsider a broader limitation for antibiotic use in animals.

From Huffpost writer Mary Clare Jalonick on Jan 4th: “The agency’s order Wednesday will limit cephalosporins, which are given to some cattle, swine, chickens and turkeys before slaughter. The drugs are used to treat pneumonia, skin infections and meningitis, among other diseases, in humans.”

Faced with a potentially disastrous public health scenario, the FDA can no longer ignore the advice of the medical establishment and the outcry of the public. For almost 20 years the FDA has waffled on antibiotic restrictions but has bowed to pressure from the drug industry. The Bush administration, under pressure from the trade industry and pharmaceutical companies, caved in and stopped the ban.

On the FDA website, Michael Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods, makes it look like they’re really doing something in saying, “We believe this is an imperative step in preserving the effectiveness of this class of important antimicrobial that takes into account the need to protect the health of both humans and animals.”

I have to laugh because this issue has been around for almost two decades and NOW the FDA is finally attempting to do something about it!
Bev Hill
www.goodfood4all.wordpress.com