A flurry of reports marked World Antibiotics Awareness Week (14-20 November), as campaigners and public health authorities sought to highlight the urgent threat posed by the rise of antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance has come about because the over-use of antibiotics in human medicine and intensive livestock farming has caused bacteria to develop resistance, rendering drugs unable to combat infection-causing pathogens.
Sustain member the
Alliance to Save our Antibiotics argued that action on the use of antibiotics in farm animals is too slow, and coordinated a letter to the press signed by 16 leading medics urging an end to the 'mass medication' of farm animals.
The Alliance to Save our Antibiotics has also co-published
a report for investors, explaining the financial risks posed by growing worldwide antibiotic resistance.
Find out more about Sustain's wide-ranging campaign work for a safer, healthier, fairer food system
here.
Published Friday 18 November 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.