FDA’s Plan to Address Antimicrobial Resistance Falls Short of the Mark

WASHINGTON, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) expressed concern today that voluntary guidance released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will not result in the reduced use of antibiotics in food production. DeLauro also expressed has concerns that data on antibiotic usage made available to the public and researchers will remain limited.

“While I am pleased that the FDA has finalized these documents, this voluntary pro-industry approach is a step in the wrong direction. Companies will either disregard the plan altogether or simply switch from using antibiotics for routine growth promotion to using the same antibiotics for routine disease prevention. For the good of public health, FDA should step up and implement tighter restrictions on antibiotic usage.”

Eighty percent of the antibiotics sold in the United States are given to healthy food animals, often to promote growth and overcompensate for crowded and unsanitary conditions. As a result of overuse, bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, and antibiotic-resistant infections kill tens of thousands of Americans every year.

The voluntary plan depends on the pharmaceutical industry acting to reduce antibiotic overuse in food animals. FDA also released proposed language loosening restrictions on how drugs in animal feeds that require a veterinarian’s approval can be used. For feed drugs, instead of a prescription, vets provide veterinary feed directives (VFDs). Currently, most drugs approved for use in animal feeds do not require veterinary approval at all.

DeLauro is a former chairwoman of the subcommittee responsible for funding the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture, and currently serves as a senior member of that committee. She is a cosponsor of the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act led by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. DeLauro is a longtime advocate for ensuring our food supply is safe and was one of the leaders responsible for passing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.