It is important to only
take antibiotics when they are needed and to follow the prescribed dosage and
duration but antibiotics are often used in beef and chicken production to
prevent or treat bacterial infections in animals. While these antibiotics can
help keep the animals healthy, their use can also lead to the presence of
antibiotic residues in the meat.
The use of antibiotics in
beef and chicken production is regulated by government agencies in many
countries, including the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) sets limits on the amount of antibiotics that can be present in meat
sold for human consumption. But it’s not helpful for shedding the light on the
serious issue in other countries.
The Bureau of
Investigative Journalism and the Guardian in November 2022. The article exposes
major fast food companies for using beef suppliers that employ antibiotics
linked to the spread of dangerous superbugs. These antibiotics are classified
as "highest priority critically important" to human health, and the
World Health Organization has cautioned against providing them to cattle.
Despite this concern, agriculture suppliers continue to use antibiotics to
ensure the health of their animals and avoid economic loss. It also highlights
the need to hold food companies accountable for their role in passing along
antibiotics to the public through a lack of accountability and standards
Regular intake of antibiotics can have savior harmful effects on human health. The overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, which occurs when bacteria develop the ability to resist the effects of antibiotics. This can make it difficult or even impossible to treat bacterial infections with antibiotics, leading to a prolonged illness, increased healthcare costs, and a higher risk of complications or death.
Eating meat contaminated with
antibiotics can also cause diarrhea, nausea, and allergic reactions and also
disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the gut, which can lead to other
health problems including increased risk of developing conditions such as
fungal infections, antibiotic-associated colitis, and inflammatory bowel
disease. Regular intake of antibiotics cascades adverse impacts on the immune
system, potentially reducing its ability to fight off infections.
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention statistic shows that antibiotic resistance is
responsible for more than 35,000 deaths in the United States each year and 1.3
million deaths globally. This highlights the severity of the issue to both
national and global public health.
However, there is concern that the overuse of
antibiotics in animal agriculture can lead to the development of
antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can pose a serious threat to human health.
To address this concern, many countries are implementing regulations to limit
the use of antibiotics in livestock production.
Consumers can also take
steps to reduce their exposure to antibiotics in meat by choosing organic or
grass-fed beef, which is produced without the use of antibiotics. We should be
aware of the potential risks associated with consuming meat containing
antibiotic residues and choose meat products produced without antibiotics
whenever possible. Policymakers and stakeholders need to work together to
develop effective strategies to address the overuse of antibiotics in
agriculture and mitigate the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Source
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and The Guardian, November 21, 2022
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