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USDA says Vilsack comments don't signal shift on antibiotics
The Department of Agriculture said Wednesday the agency has not changed its position on the use of antibiotics after public health advocates latched onto comments from Secretary Tom Vilsack as signaling a tougher stance.
"Secretary Vilsack’s comments do not reflect a change in policy for the Department," said USDA Spokeswoman Courtney Rowe.
"Working with the farm community, I think it's clear we would like to see those antibiotics used in the context of disease control and disease response as opposed to any other reason or purpose for using them," Vilsack said Wednesday. "And we're working with state veterinarians and veteranians' associations and land-grant universities to ensure that there's a better understanding of the importance of using antibiotics judiciously."
Public health advocates quickly jumped on the comments as evidence that the agency that regulates meat and poultry is changing its stance because Vilsack made no mention of disease prevention, which includes fortifying healthy animals raised in unsanitary conditions. Critics of the practice — including some Democrats in Congress — say the abundant use of antibiotics in animal agriculture is putting people at risk by creating disease-resistant superbugs.
"We agree with Secretary Vilsack that industrial farms should use antibiotics only for disease treatment and control — that is, when animals or herds are sick — and not for growth promotion and routine addition to feed to compensate for overcrowded or unsanitary conditions," said Erik Olson, director of food programs for the Pew Health Group.
Olson added that he was "disappointed" by how long it is taking for the Food and Drug Administration to issue final guidance on voluntary restrictions on antibiotic use.
"We are disappointed, however, that FDA has failed to fulfill its promise to act on the clear scientific evidence and curb antibiotic overuse," he said. "The time to act is long overdue."
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) has been leading the charge in Congress to restrict the use of several antibiotics to only treat sick animals.
Vilsack made the comments while unveiling a new report detailing the Obama administration's food safety efforts. These include "stricter standards to prevent contamination of food with dangerous bacteria, stronger surveillance to detect contamination problems earlier, and more rapid response to illness outbreaks," according to a blog post from Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Update: This story was updated at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. with comment from the USDA
