9 Out Of 10 Doctors Concerned About Antibiotic Use On Farms

The FDA admitted not long ago that the use of antibiotics in livestock was at an all-time high, and now a new poll from the Consumer Reports National Research Association has confirmed that a vast majority of American physicians are concerned by the growing consequences.

The study, published in a report called Prescription for Change, found that, in a poll of 500 family practice and internal medicine doctors, 93 percent of doctors reported that they were concerned about "the use of antibiotics in livestock production facilities for the purpose of promoting growth and preventing disease in animals that aren't sick;"47 percent of those polled reported being "extremely concerned."

The study, whose participants include the National Physicians Alliance, the US Public Interest Research Group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and many other groups, provided a set of policy recommendations in an effort to battle the adverse effects of antibiotic abuse, including: the adoption of a policy for large institutions to sell only meat that is produced on farms that restrict the use of antibiotics; FDA-imposed restriction of antibiotics for use only when called for by veterinary professionals; and the "robust tracking" of the sale, use, and impacts of antibiotic use in livestock production.   

For the latest food and drink updates, visit our Food News page.

Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.