We Are What We Eat

We Are What We Eat

In this editorial, taken from The New York Times, the author is talking about the need for the FDA and Obama administration to become more involved in the regulation of the use of antibiotics that are used by growers when raising animals that are later used for Americans' to consume.  I believe that the author's intended audience may be the public just to spread knowledge of the situation that is going on and to get other's involved in improving this situation.

The author's claim is that the FDA should make it mandatory for growers to only be able to use antibiotics under the supervision of a veterinarian and only in the case that illness/emergency is apparant.  Also, to gradually phase out the use of antibiotics altogether. The author is making these statements due to the evidence and statement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which stated that there is "a clear link between antibiotic use in animals and antibiotic resistance in humans."

I agree with the author of this article because of so many strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria that are effecting people. I think that if the FDA or the government can help regulate the usage of antibiotics to decrease the chance of bacteria resistance in humans then it should be done. With many cases of antibiotic resistant strains (example: MRSA), it is making it more difficult for some to get over their illness. I believe that most of the population does not realize that these antibiotics are effecting us, but from this article we can see that it does. I believe that antibiotics can be used if an animal becomes ill but not to assist with speeding up growth or as a preventative measure, which this article states is the normal routine for many growers.

 I believe that what can be done, should be done by our government especially if it would be more beneficial to the health of the United States. More knowledge should be spread about how the use of these antibiotics are effecting our health, it may not be an immediate effect but it is still effecting our bodies. Antibiotic resistance is never a good thing, we do not want to contribute to this by just eating the foods we normally do. The FDA and government should be more active in regulating the use of antibiotics by growers.