There have been a few occasions, over the course of this blog, that I have been accused of writing too much “fear based content”. Hmm… okay. Well, I’ve never really looked at it that way… I’ve always thought I was just sharing tips, ideas and the things I have learned or have come to “know” in helping others live greener, healthier lives…
So, for those who don’t like that type of information, I’ll preface this by saying that you’re probably not going to like what I’m about to share.
Nonetheless, I find this next bit of information really bothersome and I happen to think it’s worthy of sharing. Okay, now you’ve been lovingly warned…
Here goes…
The FDA recently released the fact that 80% of the antibiotics sold and used in 2009 were actually administered to livestock used for our food supply. Of the 35 million pounds used, 28 million pounds were used for agricultural animals and only 7 million pounds were used on humans.
The concern is this… evidence shows that the ever increasing use of antibiotics on agricultural animals (used for food) is contributing to the growth of bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotics we use to treat human illnesses.
Most often, they are not used for therapeutic reasons either. They are used to increase the growth, weight and size of animals more rapidly, and also attempt to control diseases when the animals are raised in such cramped confinement quarters. There is also the need 
to maintain the animal’s illnesses because they are fed with things that are unnatural to their digestive systems. (Regular readers might recall a previous post about agricultural animals actually being fed junk food!)
I could go on and on about this topic but, suffice it to say, this is the exact reason all of the meats, eggs and milk I purchase for my family are antibiotic-free, steroid-free and growth hormone-free…
While I hope you don’t think my advice is fear-based, I have to be honest and say this information does scare me…
Your thoughts?
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It has been said that North American kids are substantially taller than their counterparts in other countries that do no tuse as many hormones in their animals- fact or fiction I wonder?
karen – I have not heard anything about height, but I do know there is mounting evidence that it can cause early puberty in children. THAT I find incredibly bothersome!
I love the information that I learn from you, Doreen! I totally don’t see it as “fear based content”! I think that you, along with my mom, enlighten me tremendously!
(I’m getting a message below my comment to tell you that your CommentLuv plugin needs updating. Also, I’m thinking of replacing all of my MyBlogLog’s with BlogFrog since Yahoo is taking MBL away…. 🙁 What do you think you’ll do?)
Well where to begin. The author also misses that besides over crowding sanitation is substandard in most cases. The antibiotics are used like the less than smart parent who gives a child cough medicine in cold season instead of proper care. Feed lots are used on cattle, a garden spot with no pasture just mud and manure. chickens for eggs and meat/fowl production place chickens shoulder to sholder in cages. Common prctice is to feed corn. Like in humans corn in most forms is undigestible and will eventually kill cattle. Think what is in the bowl after eating corn on the cob (sorry). Harvesting before they are too sick is the big trick. Ground into meal seems the best way to digest corn other than traditional native American technique using wood ash. Something to do with the chemical breakdown I read it once.
The puberty age lowering is tied to several factors. Estogenic materials found in food wrapers and foam packaging leach into our food and water systems. The standard American diet heavy on animal protiens is higher than everother country in the world. Our Medical system also over applies antibiotics. Studies have shown that manicipal water treatment doesn’t check for or treate against common medications. Trace amonts of antibiotics, antidepresives you name it are in the water.
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