The Alliance to Save our Antibiotics -- of which Sustain is a founder member -- has been looking into antibiotic use on farms in the United States. This is highly topical, because as the UK leaves the EU, it is feared that new trading arrangements might allow US products to flow into Britain, and also allow lower US food standards to displace higher British ones. Excessive use of antibiotics in intensive farming systems is a major factor in the rise of deadly bacteria which are untreatable by any available antibiotic.
The Alliance's detailed analysis shows that US farm antibiotic use is roughly twice as high per animal as it is in the UK. Moreover, approximately 95% of US farm antibiotics are being used for mass medication, rather than to treat specific illness. Experience from countries where routine preventative mass medication is no longer practiced (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands) shows that such practices are not necessary. Read the full report here, and find out more about this issue at the Alliance's website here.
The Sustain alliance campaigns for greener, fairer and healthier food systems for everyone. Find out more about our activities and join us here.
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.
