NY State PTA Takes Stand Against Antibiotic Overuse in Livestock

The New York State Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has reportedly become the first PTA in the country to pass a resolution that calls on Congress and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration “to protect human health by prohibiting the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in food animal production.” Representing hundreds of thousands of parents, teachers and students who note that “antibiotic resistance has become a global public health crisis,” the group’s resolution supports legislation that would improve labeling on meat and poultry products and make antibiotic use on the farm more transparent. The resolution also (i) advocates public disclosure on the amount, type and purpose of antibiotic use during food animal production; (ii) encourages schools to serve meat and poultry from farms that use antibiotics only to treat disease; and (iii) supports education for parents and schools on how antibiotic use in livestock production contributes to antibiotic resistance. See Pew Charitable Trusts News Release, November 25, 2013.