KEEPING ANTIBIOTICS EFFECTIVE

One of the biggest health issues facing America is under-reported and
almost unrecognized by most people. The antibiotics that we use to cure
bacterial infections are increasingly ineffective because of the MISUSE
of antibiotics, particularly by the agricultural sector. Misuse of
antibiotics in animal feed leads to antibiotic resistance in the
bacteria that infect humans, particularly our children and the elderly.

The Union of Concerned Scientists has been lobbying the fast food industry to get major suppliers and purchasers of meat to switch to meat raised without antibiotics. And they have been meeting with some success.

This
comes from the
Union of Concerned Scientists:

Tyson Foods recently announced it will produce all of its fresh chicken without antibiotics—selling it in grocery stores under a "Raised Without Antibiotics" label. As the nation’s largest producer of chicken, Tyson is setting an important precedent for protecting public health.

The time has never been better to urge U.S. fast-food companies to follow Tyson's lead and establish strict antibiotic use policies with their meat suppliers.

Currently, an estimated 70 percent of antibiotics and related drugs in the United States are used in the feed and water of healthy animals—a practice with serious consequences for human health. Bacteria that are constantly exposed to antibiotics develop resistance to these drugs. When humans get sick from resistant bacteria, the antibiotics prescribed will no longer work.

Sign our petition to the nation's top fast-food companies urging them to help end this dangerous practice.