An audit has found that the federal government has inadequately protected the public from tainted beef. From the Des Moines Register:
The USDA’s internal watchdog says the government has failed to monitor beef adequately to ensure it isn’t contaminated with residue from veterinary drugs, pesticides or heavy metals, the Agriculture Department’s inspector general says. And even when inspectors do find contamination they don’t have the meat recalled, according to the auditors.
It’s a good piece, especially if you want to start reading up on the proposed antibiotic ban in the US. PAMTA legislation got shoved out of the national limelight by the sprawling health care debate (back in February, PAMTA was primed to take center stage with Katie Couric’s CBS piece on antibiotics). But the timing of this audit wasn’t lost on Rep. Louise Slaughter, sponsor of the PAMTA bill.
“The implications of this audit are huge,” said Rep. Louise Slaughter, who is working to restrict the use of antibiotics in livestock. “Americans expect our government to protect the public health. Overuse of antibiotics on farms leads directly to antibiotic resistant pathogens. In addition, antibiotic and other residues in meat can cause potentially severe health consequences.”
As the only microbiologist serving in congress, Rep. Slaughter holds both an expert position on the subject and a unique position to push this legislation forward.
There’s a storm forming — not sure if it’s perfect yet, but with this audit, Slaughter’s PAMTA legislation, Maryn McKenna’s book SUPERBUG (which I honestly think is a game changer at this moment in time), and a sharpening focus on food safety and public health, the “antibiotics in factory farming” issue is about to get red hot in the coming weeks. Keep your eyes peeled, luchadores.
IMAGE: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Karsten
