These days it seems like just about everything poses a danger to our health. There are chemicals in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Some lead to heart disease and diabetes, while others cause cancer. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to pay attention to every single danger and to keep you and your family safe.
So it was welcome news when earlier this month Costco announced that it would begin to phase out the use of antibiotics in its meat supply chain. Antibiotics tend to fall lower on our list of concerns because we tend to associate them with curing illness, rather than causing it. But make no mistake about it, the overuse of antibiotics in America has already started to negatively impact our health.
Why Costco’s Decision Couldn’t Come Sooner
While we tend to underestimate the effects of consuming antibiotic laden meats, the cost of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the US already totals $20 billion a year. Because we’ve continued to allow farmers to use antibiotics recklessly and indiscriminately, strong, resistant superbugs have been given a perfect environment in which to thrive.
Even worse, the Federal Drug Administration has repeatedly failed to take decisive action, instead preferring to administer ineffectual “voluntary” regulations. As a result, the problematic practice has continued with predictably detrimental effects.
Why Costco’s Choice Might Matter
Luckily, consumers have started to demand healthier meat. There is no doubt that more needs to be done, but Costco is a giant retailer. It sold over 80 million rotisserie chickens last year. That kind of clout matters.
Especially because other corporations are also taking note. McDonald’s, for instance, is getting on board with the movement. They’ve recently announced a move toward antibiotic-free chicken. When the biggest fast-food chain and second largest retailer in America start making noise, suppliers listen.
Why Costco Is Only The Beginning
Costco and McDonald’s going antibiotic-free is a big step, but still only a first one. Costco has not yet established a timeline for eliminating antibiotics, nor has McDonald’s mentioned removing them from their beef.
Much like bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, the entrenched interests of agriculture are resistant to change.
The use of antibiotics in farming is pervasive. Shockingly, 80% of antibiotics in America are administered in barns instead of hospitals. They are used to prevent illness, rather than cure it, and to fatten animals faster. They are crucial to farmers’ profitability and so many are reluctant to give up the practice.
Why Saving Lives Is More Important Than Saving Money
We’ve put money before our health for too long. The well-funded agricultural lobby has managed to render the FDA completely ineffectual in combatting this problem. And we’ve all fallen victim to the allure of cheap meat.
But we now know that meat comes with a far greater price tag - the cost of our health. Many lives have already been affected, and the problem will only get worse as superbugs are given more opportunities to evolve.
So the next time you get a chance to buy antibiotic-free meat, make sure you do so in bulk.
Sources:
http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/03/06/costco-antibiotics-policy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/15/poultry-farms-antibiotics-chickens_n_5822438.html
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8383121974_d013c36909.jpg
Steele Roddick