CSPI Antibiotic Resistance Project: The US lags behind many other countries in protecting its citizens from antibiotic resistance due to the use of antibiotics in livestock

The US lags behind many other countries in protecting its citizens from antibiotic resistance due to the use of antibiotics in livestock
	In 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that the use of any antimicrobial agent for growth promotion in animals be terminated if it is (1) used in human therapies or (2) known to select for cross-resistance to antimicrobials used in human medicine.
	In 1998, the European Union (EU) heeded that call and banned all growth promoting uses of antibiotics used in (or that select for cross-resistance to antibiotics used in) human medicine.
	Rather than take a preventive approach that would protect the public health, the United States government has not limited the use of human-use antibiotics for fattening cattle. In fact, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) criticized and challenged the European Union for taking action.
CSPI Press Release: USTR Position on Feeding Antibiotics to Livestock Directly Conflicts with CDC and WHO Positions CSPI Press Release: Representatives to White House: “USTR Ignored Scientific Findings on Human-use Antibiotics Used to Promote Growth of Livestock”