Pork Industry Strives to Set the Record Straight in Wake of CBS Story
Greiner fears action in public policy arena on how farmers use antibiotics.
Compiled by staff
Published: Feb 10, 2010
A two-part report aired on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric focused on antimicrobial use in food animal production and it got the attention of the agriculture industry.
Among other things, the report suggests antibiotic use in livestock is leading to more resistance in humans, a trend Dr. Jen Greiner says isn't supported by the science.
"We're just not seeing those trends," Greiner said. "Our producers are working on using antibiotics responsibly on farms each and everyday."
Greiner is Director of Science and Technology for the National Pork Producers Council. She notes Denmark placed a ban on antibiotic growth promoters in the late 1990s, and while CBS called it a great success story, Greiner says that's just not the case.
"When you go to Denmark and talk to producers in that country they will tell you that banning antibiotic growth promoters not only created more pig deaths and caused their pigs to suffer, but also it didn't have a positive public health outcome," Greiner said.
Greiner says that legislation that has been introduced in the House would not only ban antibiotic growth promoters but would also ban antibiotics for preventing disease as well as controlling disease. Meaning producers would only have the ability to treat a clinically sick animal. Greiner says that would be an unmitigated disaster for the industry and ultimately impact consumers.
"Dr. Scott Hurd from Iowa State University did a study a few years back where he looked at pigs that were sick versus pigs that weren't sick during the course of their lives," Greiner said. "Those pigs that were sick had a greater incidence of food bourne pathogens on the carcasses. So clearly if we're able to maintain the health of our pigs that is leading to a safer product for our consumers."
Greiner says producers desire to provide a safe and wholesome product for consumers and they are good stewards of the land and of animals. They need the license to produce as they see necessary, but she says the threat to that is very real.
"There is a mounting tidal wave that is coming on antibiotics," Greiner said. "As a producer and as a veterinarian I'm very fearful that we are going to see some sort of action in the public policy arena on how farmers use antibiotics today."
Greiner says there will be even more chatter, particularly in the Beltway, as a result of this CBS story. That's why she urges producers to call their members of Congress and explain how they use antibiotics on their farms, the great lengths they go to make certain they're using the right antibiotic at the right time, and their need to have all tools available to produce that safe, wholesome and affordable product for consumers.
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Tagged: Iowa State University, antibiotic use
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