USDA Corrects Antibiotics Usage Statements

March 23, 2011 — 

USDA officials have issued a clarification to recent statements made about livestock producers overusing antibiotics and about that overuse leading to antibiotic resistance in humans.

The original statements were presented at a House Appropriations Committee's agriculture subcommittee and were wrongly interpreted in a March 16, The Wall Street Journal article by Bill Tomson. The story titled "Hog Farmers Overuse Antibiotics, Government Data Show" reported that "hog farmers are overusing antibiotics on their herds and that may be creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria that pose a threat to human health."

The issue arose during testimony to the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, as USDA Agricultural Research Service Administrator Edward Knipling, responded to a question from Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa). Knipling said his department is conducting research on antibiotic use in livestock and antibiotic resistance.

In fact ARS regularly collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USDA's Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service and the private sector to monitor antibiotic use in animal agriculture production. ARS also conducts antimicrobial resistance monitoring is a longstanding program with National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System, the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC.

Knipling told the House panel that, while data suggest "in some cases, there are problems and concerns," the data also show "this is not as severe an issue as it might be otherwise portrayed."

In its clarification statement, USDA ARS said: "Dr. Knipling never said that swine producers were overusing antibiotics in the herds." The released statement also emphasized that Knipling specifically pointed out, that "some of that data and trends show the resistance is not developing to the extent as otherwise might be portrayed." A transcript of the hearing supports USDA's clarification.

According to the National Pork Producers Council, claims that pork producers are overusing antibiotics, which is leading to antibiotic resistance, have no basis in fact and no science behind them. NPPC officials point out that data from NARMS, which does not gather antibiotic use information, show resistance has been nearly unchanged for the past 10 to 15 years and that 2009 NARMS data specifically focusing on hogs show that antibiotic resistance is "low."

"Pork producers use antibiotics responsibly, under the direction of a veterinarian, to protect public health and the health of their animals and to produce safe food," says Howard Hill, DVM, who serves on NPPC's board of directors. "We are appreciative that USDA clarified what was actually said at Wednesday's appropriations hearing."

Harry Snelson, DVM, with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, adds, "Swine producers utilize antimicrobials judiciously and as legally approved by the FDA following a rigorous scientific review. (On the farm) Antimicrobials are selected based on diagnostic laboratory results and veterinary involvement to improve animal health, protect public health and enhance food safety."

NPPC officials further point out that "the U.S. pork industry consistently has supported NARMS's work and has urged it to conduct on-farm sampling of animals for antimicrobial resistance."

Source: Marlys Miller, Editor, Pork Magazine, March 18, 2011