The Use of Antibiotics in Food-Producing Animals
The continued use of antibiotics in food-producing animals like pigs, poultry, and livestock has recently sparked a contentious discussion. One side of the debate has representatives from the agricultural sector speculating that animals only receive minimal doses of antibiotics, either through the food they eat or through injections. Contrarily, medical professionals and organizations like the World Health Organization point out that continued overuse of antibiotics is causing antimicrobial resistance in people, a growing danger that needs to be addressed by all governmental agencies and society as a whole. The heated debate calls for closer inspection of the real implication brought about by continued use of antibiotics in such food producing animals. Moyer to begin with, points out that heavier use of antibiotics occurs in agricultural farms compared to human use. Martin, Thottathil and Newman (2409-2410) further reiterate the finding by highlighting that among the antibiotics produced in United States, over 80% of them are sold for use in animal agriculture. Consequently, Moyer argues that the heavy use of antibiotics may be the largest source of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Challenging the Notion
However, arguments have emerged to challenge the notion posited by Moyer. One of these is advanced by Hao et al. who note that the current food crisis problem is leading to undernourishment of the world's population. Consequently, as Hao et al note, there is an increase in demand of animal source food, especially among developing countries. With such high demand levels, arises need for chemotherapy to ensure food producing animals are reared as efficiently as possible. Use of antimicrobials has been one of the most effective chemotherapies, enabling the prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases among animals from as early as 1940 (Marshall and Levy 718-733).
Advantages of Antibiotics in Animals
Hao et al further proceed to highlight different advantages that accrue from the use of the antibiotics in animals, which further advocates for their continued use. They note that the antibiotics enable prevention and treatment of animal diseases that are caused by bacteria. They quote mastitis in cattle which often leads to numerous losses to farmers as well as bacteria caused diseases in aquatic life and poultry. Without use of such antibiotics, there would be numerous losses associated with illnesses that are caused by bacteria, parasites and other well known pathogens.
Protection for Humans and Animal Production Enhancement
Secondly, the antimicrobials help protect humans against infectious diseases that can harm them. As such, by using the antibiotics, such disease causing pathogens are controlled thereby protecting farmers who interact with the different animals. The third advantage, which is the bone of contention, is that antimicrobials enhance animal production. For instance, different antimicrobials have been seen to enable pigs and poultry to grow faster and fatter. The enhancement has fuelled greed among agricultural players to continue to overuse the antibiotics in order to reap higher profits within short periods of time.
The Argument to Ban Antibiotics
The argument to ban the use of antimicrobials is highly contended against from different quarters as most agricultural players see it as a threat to their profits, consequently, turning a blind eye to it. According to Chang et al. (240-247), a reason that motivates such actions is the lack of empirical evidence to support the argument that use of antibiotics in agriculture leads to increased resistance to diseases in human medicine thereby leading to common drugs becoming inefficient in curing less complicated diseases.
Banning Antibiotics and the Impact
In my view, the use of antimicrobials should be banned and considered illegal in order to motivate further research into development of alternative drugs that can offer similar solutions without having a negative impact on human health. Nestle holds a similar view as she argues that the widespread use of the drugs is leading to microbial resistance, thereby rendering antibiotics ineffective against common diseases. For instance, less complicated diseases such as ear infections or throat complications could eventually become severe and life threatening if resistance against the antibiotics used to treat them continually develops.
However, as Cheng et al. notes, the development of alternatives to antibiotics has somewhat been challenged by the controversy that arises against in. A source of conflict emerges from the widely acknowledged fact that veterinary medicine has come along way since the discovery of penicillin in the early 1940s and existent solutions have been seen to work for decades. However, Cheng et al. posit that alternatives are in development such as immunity modulating agents, inhibitors, plant extracts, and antimicrobial peptides.
Shortcomings of the Ban
Phillips I et al. argue that by illegalizing use of antibiotics in animals, several shortcomings are expected both to farmers and consumers alike. Farmers would feel the most severe impact as they would lose their animals to diseases caused by treatable diseases, and second, be exposed to disease causing pathogens, thus leaving them vulnerable to getting sick. Consumers on the other hand would feel the impact eventually, with decreased supply of food products such as eggs, pork, milk, etc. as sustaining production of the same would eventually become too hard.
However, it is hoped that alternatives will be developed in time before a ban is effected on antimicrobial use in food producing animals. There is indeed need to ensure humans are not exposed to risk from the use of such drugs.
References
Chang, Qiuzhi et al. "Antibiotics In Agriculture And The Risk To Human Health: How Worried Should We Be?." Evolutionary Applications 8.3 (2014): 240-247. Web. 29 Oct. 2017.
In this research article, the authors argue that the current clinical problem of resistant diseases in human medicine stems from the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture, particularly with antibiotic use in food producing animals. However, they also note that the lack of empirical proof linking agriculture to the clinical problem prevents further action from being taken. As a result, they propose three mechanisms through which agricultural antibiotics could lead to human diseases and proceed to demonstrate how different bacteria and disease causing germs are transmitted across different individuals.
Cheng, Guyue et al. "Antibiotic Alternatives: The Substitution Of Antibiotics In Animal Husbandry?." Frontiers in Microbiology 5 (2014): n. pag. Web. 29 Oct. 2017.
In this research article, the authors point out that the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria due to the uncontrolled use of antibiotics in food-producing animals has prompted research into development of suitable alternatives to the given antibiotics. However, they argue that controversy arises over whether the alternatives could replace antibiotics. As a result, their study evaluates recent developments and perspectives of alternatives to the antibiotics. In addition, they also discuss the feasibility of the different alternatives.
Hao, Haihong et al. "Benefits And Risks Of Antimicrobial Use In Food-Producing Animals." Frontiers in Microbiology 5 (2014): n. pag. Web. 29 Oct. 2017.
In this research article, the authors acknowledge the current heated debate against use of antimicrobials in food producing animals which has consequently led to banning of the use of the products in different countries. As such, in their study, they focus on assessing the benefits and risks that are associated with use of such antibiotics in food producing animals. Their study discusses both the positive and negative aspects that are associated with the antibiotics.
Nestle, Marion. "Why We Need To Ban The Use Of Antibiotics In Farm Animals Now." The Atlantic. N.p., 2017. Web. 29 Oct. 2017.
Marion Nestle, a professor from New York’s University department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health, argues in this article that there is a need to ban the use of antibiotics in farm animals. She highlights that using antibiotics to promote growth of animals or reduce their feed requirement is leading to negative consequences by threatening human health. She further argues that public health organisations are not taking the necessary steps to understand the severity of the problem.
Marshall, B. M., and S. B. Levy. "Food Animals And Antimicrobials: Impacts On Human Health." Clinical Microbiology Reviews 24.4 (2011): 718-733. Web. 29 Oct. 2017.
In this research article, the authors acknowledge the benefits that accrue use of antimicrobials as therapeutics in food producing animals. However, they point out that the benefits are currently being challenged by the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in humans. As such, their study aims to illustrate the different influences of the antimicrobials on human health. They evaluate the effect of removal of non therapeutic antimicrobials (NTAs) in Europe and its influence on antimicrobial resistance and conclude that eliminating use of NTAs will lead to better resistance in humans.
Martin, Michael J., Sapna E Thottathil, and Thomas B. Newman. "Antibiotics Overuse In Animal Agriculture: A Call To Action For Health Care Providers." American Journal of Public Health 105.12 (2015): 2409-2410. Web. 29 Oct. 2017.
In this research article, the authors postulate that of all antibiotics sold in the United States, 80% of them are sold to animal agriculture where they are administered to animals to both improve their growth rate and help ward off infections. However, they note that the practice is leading to antibiotic resistance in humans. As such, their study aims to heighten attention among health care providers to prevent overuse of antibiotics in food producing animals as it is leading to higher costs of treating anti-biotic resistant infections in humans.
Moyer, Melinda Wenner. "How Drug-Resistant Bacteria Travel From The Farm To Your Table." Scientific American. N.p., 2016. Web. 29 Oct. 2017.
Melinda Wenner Moyer, is a contributing writer for the Scientific American who has won various accolades for her contribution in scientific journalism. In this article, she argues about the overuse of antibiotics in food producing animals and narrates how the practice is leading to human health challenges. She points out that the intensive use of antibiotics in animals compared to people acts as the largest source of resistance to antibiotics. However, she also notes that most players in the agricultural sector are downplaying the severity of the issue by claiming that it is an exaggeration.
Phillips, I et al "Does The Use Of Antibiotics In Food Animals Pose A Risk To Human Health? A Critical Review Of Published Data." Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 53.1 (2003): 28-52. Web. 29 Oct. 2017.
In this research article, the authors review published data in an attempt to argue out the notion that the continued use of antibiotics in food animals poses risks to human health. They argue out that the prevalent problem exists among humans and proceed to provide examples of resistant bacteria that have emerged following increased resistance. For instance, they cite zoonotic salmonellosis, a bacterium that lead to cross-infection in humans.
