Costco is working to ban antibiotics from meat.
The overuse of antibiotics is now an epidemic in the United States. The issue with taking too many antibiotics is that they kill good bacteria in the gut, which makes it more difficult to fight infections in the future.
The immune system gets used to them and creates antibiotic resistance.
A report published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that in 2010, health care providers prescribed “258.0 million courses of antibiotics in 2010, or 833 prescriptions per 1000 persons.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now reporting that the infectious organisms that antibiotics usually target have adapted to the drugs, because they have been used for so long.
When antibiotics are consumed in the food we eat, it can contribute to antibiotic resistance as well.
“We are working towards, and working with our suppliers and the regulatory agencies… to see how we can get rid of shared-use antibiotics in animals,” said Craig Wilson, the vice president of food safety at Costco. “I think all of us want to move to a point where we can get the human-use antibiotics out of the system. It’s going to take time.”
Wilson added that Costco, which sells about 80 million rotisserie chickens per year, is working with suppliers to get rid of antibiotic use in animals. Costco has been working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Some big corporations have already reduced antibiotics. Chick-Fil-A announced last year in a statement that they would start serving antibiotic-free chicken. Major corporation Tyson has also reduced antibiotic use by over 84 percent since 2011.
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
DON’T FORGET to sign up for our weekly newsletter to get our latest articles, updates, free recipes and giveaways.
What you need to know about antibiotic resistance.
Rivers and antibiotic resistance: Is there a connection?
The top five natural antibiotic foods.
Best homemade antibiotic.
Study shows that honey is an effective alternative to antibiotic medications.
REFERENCES:
1. “Exclusive: Costco Working to End Use of Human Antibiotics in Chicken.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 05 Mar. 2015. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
2. “Costco Working to Restrict Antibiotics.” USA Today. Gannett, 06 Mar. 2015. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.
3. “Costco Works to End Human Antibiotics in Chicken.” CNBC. CNBC, 06 Mar. 2015. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
4. “Antibiotic / Antimicrobial Resistance.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 04 Mar. 2014. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.
5. “Chick-fil-A to Serve Antibiotic-Free Chicken.” Chick-Fil-A. Chick-Fil-A, 11 Feb. 2014. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
