Is Your Meat Safe?

From tuberculosis to pneumonia, most people died from infectious diseases throughout history. But now in developed countries worldwide, these infections are mostly treatable. This is all thanks to the discovery of antibiotics in the early 1900s, which was a huge triumph for modern medicine. To put this into perspective, the discovery of antibiotics single-handedly added eight years to the life expectancy of Western humans.

In recent years, the long-term efficacy of antibiotics has been threatened in order to improve the profits of livestock farmers. Livestock are given low doses of antibiotic like a daily vitamin, allowing for healthier animals that grow bigger faster. Also, animals get sick too so the addition of antibiotics in their diet keeps them from getting sick. Herein lies the problem, as antibiotics are meant to used for treatment, not a preventive measure. Would you pop antibiotics everyday like a vitamin? I think not.

So, what’s the big deal?

These are detrimental for human health. Antibiotic medicines are losing effectiveness on humans due to their increased use in animal feed.
Also, poultry products often carry at least one bacterial strain, and it is now increasingly likely that the meat you buy contains an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria. The likelihood of acquiring bacterial infections is rising, most of which are caused by resistant strains, leading to a huge public health threat.

Do you know what you’re ingesting?

A recent survey from the U.S. showed that less than half of participants (48 percent) are aware that the beef and poultry purchased at American supermarkets commonly are raised on feed that contains antibiotics. In addition, only 27 percent of those surveyed are aware of the detrimental effects of antibiotics being used in raising livestock. However, the majority (59 percent) opted to switch to antibiotic-free meats once they learned of the relationship between the overuse of antibiotics in animal feed and its effect on humans.

What can you do about it?

The answer lies in your diet. Avoid meats altogether that contain antibiotics; all meats that are certified organic will be free of antibiotics. You can buy directly from slaughterhouses and butchers. It’s worth the added expense!

Can you imagine a world without antibiotics? I certainly cannot. Making the switch to antibiotic-free meats will keep antibiotics effective and, most importantly, your health will thank you.