The golden era of useful antibiotics may be coming to an end, due in large part to the overuse of antibiotics in CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations). CAFOs, otherwise known as “factory farms,” are all about raising farm animals faster, bigger, cheaper. To sustain their unnaturally concentrated and large populations of livestock, CAFOs rely heavily on antibiotics. Now, the newest research out of China reveals that the overuse of subtherapeutic antibiotics as growth-promotants on CAFOs is creating antibiotic resistant superbugs — strains of bacteria that do not respond to antibiotic treatment.
Are Antibiotics Making You Fat?
Did you know that according to a recent study, gut dysbiosis brought on by a course of antibiotics made rats fat? Turns out, there may be a strong correlation between antibiotic treatment and weight gain. AND, even residual antibiotic levels found in conventionally raised meat and dairy products can disrupt the all-important microbial balance of your gut.
Who’s Hogging Our Antibiotics?
Large-scale industrial farming of animals relies heavily on antibiotics. I’d go so far as to say that it wouldn’t be possible without the regular administration of antibiotics on relatively “healthy” animals. Otherwise, how else could they get away with crowding the animals into facilities that are sanitation nightmares? According to a new ad campaign launched by the Pew Charitable Trusts, up to 70% of antibiotics used in the U.S. go to farm animals that aren’t sick.