McDonald’s announced last month that it plans to start using chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine. (Mark Duncan, Associated Press file)
Re: “White House announces plan to right antibiotic-resistant germs,” March 28 news story.
Although the Obama administration’s recent plan to tackle antibiotic resistance does take several important steps, the White House does indeed need to go further.
We’re looking at a future where minor infections could once again kill; we must do everything we can to tackle these drug-resistant superbugs.
The administration has not gone far enough to tackle the biggest problem: the troubling overuse and misuse of antibiotics on large factory farms. In fact, 70 percent of antibiotics used in the U.S. are sold for use in livestock and poultry production.
Retailers like McDonald’s, and Good Times and Illegal Pete’s here in Denver, are making commitments to tackle antibiotic overuse in agriculture. But while fast food restaurants are taking the lead on confronting this public health issue, our national laws are not keeping up.
Brittany Duran,Thornton
This letter was published in the April 3 edition.
