FDA Putting Brakes On Livestock Antibiotics

After decades of delay while antibiotic resistant “superbugs” continued to gain ground, the FDA is about to impose some restrictions on antibiotic use in the livestock industry. The industry has long been able to keep regulation at bay by arguing that pathogen resistance that developed as the result of massive and routine use of antibiotics in livestock would not affect people, a claim not accepted by public health experts. Among the changes that will take effect by the end of 2016: Antibiotics that were available over the counter will need to be prescribed by veterinarians.