By Alex Johnston
Epoch Times Staff
Created: January 4, 2012
Last Updated: January 4, 2012
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Jan. 4, that ranchers and farmers must scale down usage of a certain kind of antibiotic in cows, chickens, pigs, and turkeys.
The cephalosporin antibiotic, which is injected into the animals before they are slaughtered, may increase drug resistance in humans if they consume the said animal products, the FDA said.
Too much exposure to the antibiotic, the FDA said, is “likely to contribute to cephalosporin-resistant strains of certain bacterial pathogens,” and could be detrimental in treating diseases in humans, according to a statement released by the agency.
Cephalosporins are used to treat pneumonia, meningitis, skin infections, and other ailments.
“If cephalosporins are not effective in treating human diseases from these pathogens, doctors may have to use drugs that are not as effective or that have greater side effects,” the FDA said.
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