Protecting the Food Supply

CDC estimates that more than 400,000 U.S. residents become ill with infections caused by antibiotic-resistant foodborne bacteria every year.

Antibiotic use in food animals can lead to resistant infections in humans. Studies have shown that:

Antibiotic use in food animals allows antibiotic-resistant bacteria to grow and crowd out the bacteria that do respond to antibiotics;
Resistant bacteria can contaminate food from the animals;
Resistant bacteria in food can cause infections in humans; and
These bacteria also can get into the environment through animal stool and may spread to produce that is irrigated with contaminated water.