Amid fears of superbugs, the sale of medically important antibiotics given to food-producing livestock rose by 4% overall in the U.S. in 2022, an increase that prompted advocates to complain that not enough is being done to thwart antibiotic resistance.
In particular, the sale and distribution of tetracycline, which accounted for 65% of the medically important antibiotics given the livestock, increased by 4%, according to the latest annual report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Meanwhile, the sale and distribution of macrolides, which represented 9% of overall domestic sales of such medicines, rose by 8%.
“It is dispiriting to see the use of medically important antibiotics on the rise for livestock production. This is a concerning trend for both human and animal health as antibiotic-resistant superbugs become an increasing threat,” said Chris Oliviero, general manager at Niman Ranch, a network of over 600 independent family farmers and ranchers who raise pork, beef, and lamb without antibiotics.