Superbug fears as British supermarket pig farms escalate use of antibiotics

THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

Hog producers on the Canadian prairies (AB,SK & MB) were feeding more antibiotics to their herds in 2018 than 2017. (Source - CIPARS)

The use of certain antibiotics deemed critical to human health has surged on British pig farms supplying major supermarkets, prompting fresh concerns about the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Story here.

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WILL THE WORLD’S ADDICTION TO INDUSTRIAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION BRING AN END TO THE AGE OF THE “MIRACLE DRUG?”

How the power of the pork industry thwarts efforts to protect the public from infectious diseases. A CBS "Sixty-Minutes" video.

RELATED:

• "In Hogs We Trust" Part 1 Could the Manitoba government’s return to a deregulated hog industry actually contribute to a world health crisis?

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria widespread in Ontario waterways

Canadian Science Publishing

It turns out antibiotic-resistant bacteria are far more ubiquitous than previously thought. A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology tested the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in four aquatic environments in southern Ontario—and found them everywhere. Story here.

RELATED:  "In Hogs We Trust" - Part 1 - Antibiotic Overuse.

European parliament approves curbs on use of antibiotics on farm animals

TheGuardian

Move is aimed at halting the spread of ‘superbugs’ resistant to medical treatment. Details here.

RELATED: Starting this December, Canadian farmers will need a prescription to obtain veterinary antibiotics for their livestock. According to a retired University of Guelph professor, John Prescott, the federal regulatory changes mean the agriculture industry will be required to play its part in reducing the use of antibiotics here and around the world. More here.

Scourge of superbugs killing Malawi’s babies

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Babies are dying in their thousands in Malawi because drugs to treat common infections no longer work. We went to investigate. 

Related: In Hogs We Trust - Part 1 - Antibiotic Overuse. 

Taxes on Meat Could Join Carbon, Sugar and Tobacco to Help Curb Emissions

EcoWatch

Driven by a global consensus around meat's negative contributions to climate change and global health epidemics such as obesity, cancer & antibiotic resistance, a new British report concludes that a meat tax should be considered "inevitable" for any government serious about addressing the climate crisis & other health concerns that stem from livestock production. Story here.

Dairy cows. USDA photo.

Related: 

• "In Hogs We Trust." Part #1 How the Manitoba government’s return to a deregulated hog industry could actually aggravate a world health crisis.
• "In Hogs We Trust." Part #2 The Price We Pay For Corporate Hog$

Coming Clean - Canada to Reduce Unregulated Use of Antibiotics in Farm Animals.

Manitoba Co-Operator. Laura Rance

PLT photo

Canadian health and veterinary authorities have been discussing the virtually unregulated and poorly monitored antibiotic use in farm animals since the late 1990s. Full story here.

As Canada Dawdles, Denmark Shows the World How to Stop Mass-Medicating Animals

The Saskatoon Star Phoenix

Unlike Canada, Danish farmers must record every single dose of antibiotic they use. Details here.