Antibiotic use in human and animal health is passionate topic.  With so many labels out there claiming to be antibiotic free, the consumer is left wondering if the food they are purchasing is safe.

 

“All of the food at the grocery store, is antibiotic free," said Sarah Howard is Vice President of the King/Pierce County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.  "We have so many regulations and safeguards in place to make sure that there are no antibiotic residues in any food, that you buy.”

 

Howard said the use of antibiotics will come up when talking about the health of an animal well before harvest.  She said in the past, producers could use growth promoting antibiotics, including penicillin to help livestock.  But in 2019, those practices are no longer legal.

 

While using antibiotics for animal health and welfare is legal and does not appear in the food chain, there are some companies that promote product “raised without antibiotics ever being used”.

 

“If a producer has a way of keeping their animals healthy from birth to market without ever using antibiotics, that’s awesome for them.  That’s great," Howard added.  "But, it’s not possible for all producers and all situations, and I think it’s unnecessary to vilify the use of antibiotics to keep animals health, because animals deserve our very best care.”

 

Howard continued the bottom line is, despite what you read on social media, modern livestock practices ensure that antibiotics do not end up in the food at your local store.

 

 

 

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