Transcript Antimicrobials in Animal Feed: Time to Stop”

Antibiotics in Agriculture: Science,
Public Policy, and the Marketplace
Rebecca Goldburg, Senior Scientist,Environmental Defense
November, 2004
The Antibiotic Resistance Crisis
Federal Interagency Task Force,
2001:
Antimicrobial resistance is “a growing menace
to all people”
Without effective action, treatments for
common infections “will become increasingly
limited and expensive – and, in some cases,
nonexistent.“
Relative Causation
• Medical overuse is a major factor
• But, massive agricultural use of
antibiotics likely also plays a large role in
generating and distributing resistance
genes
• Precise quantification of relative
contributions probably impossible…
• ... but simultaneous action on medical
and agricultural fronts is not!
Key terminology
Therapeutic
Treat sick animals or those likely to get sick
because of illness in the herd or flock
Non-therapeutic
Generally added to feed
For “growth promotion”
For “routine prophylaxis” – compensate for
crowded conditions
U.S. antimicrobial use
70
Half from
classes
used in
human
medicine
%
6
8
Livestock
Therapy
Human
Therapy
15
Other
Livestock
Non-Therapeutic
UCS estimates
Routes of Exposure
Antibiotics
Animals
FOOD
HUMANS
(General
Populace)
WORKERS
Resistant
Bacteria
ENVIRONMENT
Transfer of Resistance Genes
 Plasmids and more
Readily transferred
Even to distantly
related bacteria
Confirmed in human
gut, mouth
 Bacteria “teach” each
other to outwit
antibiotics
Routes of Exposure
Antibiotics
Animals
Resistant
Bacteria
“AR genes … once evolved
in
of any kind
Viabacteria
FOOD
handling,
consumption
anywhere,
can spread
indirectly through the
Via
WORKERS
world’s
interconnecting
Handling of feed, manure;
commensal,
environmental
transfer to family,
community
and pathogenic bacterial
Via
ENVIRONMENT
populations
to other kinds
Contamination of water, soil, air
of
bacteria anywhere else.”
by bacteria and antibiotics
-- O’Brien, 2002
HUMANS
(General
Populace)
The Role of Residues
• Antibiotic residues NOT major focus of
concern
– Testing finds occasional violations of
residue standards
• But, even if residue standards fully met,
antibiotic resistance problem remains!
Public-health consensus
National Academies Institute of Medicine, 2003:
"Clearly, a decrease in antimicrobial use in
human medicine alone will have little
effect on the current situation. Substantial
efforts must be made to decrease
inappropriate overuse in animals and
agriculture as well."
Government Policy and
Marketplace Initiatives
Government policy
Phaseouts of antibiotic feed additives in
Sweden, Denmark, and then EU
US – FDA, Congress
Marketplace
Restaurant chains, suppliers
Market opportunities
Environmental Defense’s role
• Coalition to Keep Antibiotics Working
(KAW) – members include




Union of Concerned Scientists
Humane Society of the United States
National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Environmental Defense
• Alliance for Environmental Innovation –
arm of Environmental Defense that works with
businesses to voluntarily adopt policies and
practices that protect the environment
FDA’s Draft Guidance 152
• New FDA policy
• Mostly guidance to industry for assessing
NEW antimicrobial drugs for animals
• Acknowledges FDA needs to review
existing approvals, but no timetable for
doing so
Fluoroquinolones in poultry
Oct. 2000: FDA proposed to ban
fluoroquinolones for therapeutic use
in poultry
Bayer contesting
FDA administrative law judge ruled
against Bayer in 2003
Multi-year process of appeals ensues
Meanwhile, poultry drug remains on
market
Citizen Petition to FDA,
March 1999
 Asked FDA to issue rules phasing out non-therapeutic
use of 7 classes of medically important antibiotics.
 FDA “tentative” response Feb. 01: “The
Agency’s experience with contested, formal withdrawal proceedings is that the process can
consume extensive periods of time and Agency
resources.”
 FDA cited as examples:
 DES
- 6 years
 Nitrofurans - 20 years
“Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical
Treatment Act”
(Sen. Kennedy/Snowe; Rep. Brown/Gilchrest)

Phases out
nontherapeutic use
of 8 classes of
human-use
antibiotics
 Unless FDA
concludes ‘safe’


Ag-use data
Transition support
Endorsers
• About 375 endorsers, including:
–
–
–
–
–
–
American Medical Association
American Academy of Pediatrics
Alabama State Nurses Association
Iowa Farmers Union
American Grassfed Association
Consumer Federation of America
Marketplace: Private sector
actions
Major poultry producers -- Perdue, Tyson Foods,
Foster Farms, ConAgra, Gold Kist, Claxton, and
Wayne Farms – say they have reduced or
eliminated routine uses of medically important
antibiotics or the use of fluoroquinolones in sick
birds
McDonald’s Policy
• Developed with Environmental Defense
• Bans growth promoters after 2004 for
“direct suppliers,” i.e. poultry
• Creates purchasing preference for
other suppliers
• Establishes guidelines for “sustainable
use” – e.g. preventative use of antibiotics
• Applies globally
Economic Opportunity
Consumer interest in products
from animals raised
– Without routine/
any antibiotics
– Without hormones
– Under standards for
humane treatment
– By independent
”family” farmers
“Family Farm Foods”
New initiative:
• Marketing alliance to be based in
Louisiana
• National scope with regional subunits
• Link producers to retailers
• Clear, consistent production protocols
National Brand using Visa Model
Family Farm Foods
Key organizations:
• Agriculture of the Middle
• The Association of Family Farms, Inc.
• Family Farm Foods of Mississippi
Other supporters:
• Land grants
• Foundations
• Nongovernment organizations
• SYSCO, Winn Dixie
Conclusions
• Strong scientific case for reducing
antibiotic use in animal agriculture
• Federal government is beginning to
address the issue
• Some major food companies are reducing
antibiotic use, particularly in poultry
• Coupling reduced antibiotic use with
other production attributes may offer an
opportunity for independent farmers