FDA Quietly Ends Attempt to Regulate Antibiotics in Animal Feed By Noel Brinkerhoff

The Food and Drug Administration has decided to withdraw rules limiting the use of human antibiotics in animal feed, much to the dismay of environmental and consumer groups.

 

The FDA used the holiday season to quietly make the policy change by publishing its announcement in the federal register.

 

Health advocates argue that the inclusion of antibiotics such as penicillin, cephalosporin and tetracyclines in agricultural animal feed contributes to the development of drug-resistant superbugs. The FDA itself has repeatedly agreed with this finding, having first acknowledged in 1977 that too much utilization of antibiotics in healthy livestock could prove unsafe.

 

In addition, if an animal doesn’t eat its required daily dose of food, it also doesn’t ingest its required daily dose of antibiotics, and whatever harmful bacteria are being fought are not wiped out.

 

Rather than regulate the medications, the FDA now expects the farming industry to self-regulate itself on the use of antibiotics.

Apple Juice Deemed Unhealthy

It seems there is more to worry aboutwith apple juice besides the small amounts of arsenic.

With very few nutrients, a lot of sugar, and lots of calories, it is capable of adding to one's weight and messing up children's teeth. A number of the companies are fortify their juices with vitamins but it doesn't appease New York dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. “If isn't healthy in the first place, adding vitamins doesn't make it into a health food,” referring to fruit juices that are fortified with vitamins.”

"Fruit juice offers no nutritional benefit for infants younger than 6 months" and no benefits over whole fruit for older kids,” says the American Academy of Pediatrics.

There is the also the problem of from where America gets most of its apples. The country only produce 17 percent of its own apple juice. China, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil are the countries who provide the rest.

How strong are the regulations on apple juice? Not very it seems. The Food and Drug Administration said “it will examine the restrictions”.

What does “examine the restrictions” mean? Is this to say they don't know their own restrictions on apple juice? Is anyone asking this question?

Combine these two things: Not knowing their own regulations or if they are healthy for you? This can't reveal anything good at all. University of Wisconsin, Madison professor Dr. Frank Greer says it best. “Whole foods are much better for you.”

Dogs Getting Sick From Chicken Treats

United States - People who love to give their dogs chicken jerky need to watch out, as they may be responsible for spreading sickness and death among the canines.

The Food and Drug Administration warns at least 70 dogs became sick after eating the products, which come from China. Last year there were 54 reports.

So far the only knows it's chicken-treat related. Symptoms of something wrong are “decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea, increased water consumption and increased urination. If your pet displays these issues, you are recommended to stop feeding the treats. If problems persist after about a day or are serious,seek medical help.

You can go here to report your dog's problems.

McDonald's Drops Egg Suppliers Over Health Concerns

Chicago – McDonald's dropped an egg supplier after the Food and Drug Administration found it to have “filthy conditions and unacceptable rodent activity.” An animal rights group, Mercy for Animals, also exposed the inhumane treatment of the chickens.

After inspecting five egg facilities, in Iowa, Minnesota, and Colorado, the FDA issued a warning to Sparboe Farms saying there were “serious violations” of a law put into place to prevent the spread of salmonella.

McDonald's vice president, Bob Langert, released a statement today saying the choice to let go of Sparboe Farms was out of “concern regarding the management of Sparboe's facilities.” Mercy for Animals was also a factor in the decision after the group released a tri-state three-month-long investigation of its farms.

“Wired with a pin-hole camera,” Mercy for Animals executive director Nathan Runkle said, the worker “documented repeated cases of animal abuse and neglect.”

The video, posted here on Youtube and here on their site, shows dead and live chickens in the same enclosure, chicks with broken beaks, talk of workers abusing the animals, and live chickens being discarded with dead ones in plastic bags.