| Vol. 5 | No. 4 | Fall 2003 |
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Dialogue
Why should vegetarians be concerned about the overuse of antibiotics in livestock? |
Animals that are fed antibiotics for most of their lives develop high levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their guts. If these bacteria find their way to humans, they can cause diseases that are difficult to treat—especially since many antibiotics used on the farm are the same as those used in human medicine.
While strict vegetarians need not worry about becoming infected by bacteria in uncooked or undercooked meat, the same bacteria can contaminate cutting boards, utensils, and kitchen counters during meat preparation. These same utensils and surfaces could then be used to prepare vegetarian meals—contaminated vegetables and water don't distinguish between vegetarians and meat eaters. In addition, farm waste and runoff can contaminate crops, ground water, surface water, and drinking water, all of which can result in human exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Workers in animal production operations who are routinely exposed to antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria have a high risk of contracting illnesses that do not respond to today's medicines. They can then pass these illnesses to other people. Finally, antibiotic resistance can spread from bacteria on the farm to unrelated bacteria, further increasing the number of pathways for disease transmission between animals and humans.
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