Citing a new estimate–that around 80 percent of all U.S. antibiotics are given to animals–Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) reintroduced a bill this week aimed at limiting the use of certain classes of antibiotics in animal agriculture.
Slaughter is lobbying her colleagues to support H.R. 965, the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act, commonly referred to as PAMTA.
"Antibiotic resistance is a major public health crisis, and yet antibiotics are used regularly and with little oversight in agriculture. As a microbiologist, I cannot stress the urgency of this problem enough so today I’m proud to reintroduce the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act," said Slaughter Wednesday. "When we go to the grocery store to pick up dinner, we should be able to buy our food without worrying that eating it will expose our family to potentially deadly bacteria that will no longer respond to our medical treatments."
The bill comes just days after Slaughter’s office confirmed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the percentage of all U.S. antibiotics used for food animals is markedly higher than previously estimated. Rep. Slaughter called the new stat "alarming" and vowed to push forward with legislation, which has earned over 120 cosponsors.
Slaughter, the only microbiologist serving in Congress, made clear that her bill would only apply to the subtherapeutic use of antibiotics, which are just as important for animal health as they are for human medicine.
Source:
Food Safety News March 10, 2011
by Helena Bottemiller