According to the World Health Organization, the widespread use
if antimicrobials in food animal production is cause for concern
regarding public health. Antimicrobials are used for mass
treatment against infectious diseases or continuously in feed at
very low doses (parts per million) for growth promotion,
particularly in pig and poultry production. Antimicrobials are
used to improve feed conversion and reduce waste product output
from intensive livestock production. Because of the density and
confinement of the animals in Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations (CAFOs) there is great risk for communicable diseases
to pass quickly between the animals. The vast number of animals,
and the rivers of waste they produce and remain exposed to,
diminishes their resistance to sickness posing yet another
threat to the humans and animals that eat them. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration announced recently they are going to
protect an important class of antimicrobial drugs for treating
human illness by prohibiting cer