CSPI Calls for Stronger Action to Fight Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Statement of CSPI Senior Food Safety Attorney David W. Plunkett

June 2, 2015

Because the federal government purchases a lot of meat and poultry, the President’s action will help drive more food companies to reduce use of antibiotics in food production. And while that is important, it only lasts as long as President Obama is in office. We need permanent solutions to stop overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture.

The Administration’s plan does not ban the veterinary use of antibiotics important to human medicine for purposes other than treating sick animals. That’s something that has contributed to development of resistant bacteria in the animals—and to harder-to-treat infections in people.