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A report in a recent issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal says excessive amounts of antibiotics being fed to livestock are creating superbugs that cause illness and death among humans.
Health Canada has responded by saying that if farmers do not voluntarily reduce antibiotics fed to livestock, the federal government will pass regulations to require them to do so. Dr. Rebecca Irwin of Health Canada was quoted as saying, That's going to mean changing farming practices, to promote better management systems to minimize the need for antibiotics. Health Canada will urge that some antibiotics be discontinued and others be used more carefully.
Antibiotics are commonly used in commercial animal feed and drinking water. Producers use the drugs to increase animal growth and treat and deter disease. Their use has increased substantially since intensive farming practices have become common, with large numbers of animals confined together.
Source: Canadian Press, November 4, 1998
