Food-industry website FoodDive.com recognized U.S. chicken producer Sanderson Farms as 2017 Food Company of the Year for its principled stance on antibiotic use in poultry production. Sanderson believes using antibiotics when medically necessary benefits food safety and improves animal welfare and environmental sustainability. Sanderson exhibits transparency in agriculture and food production which increases consumer trust and confidence.
I am deeply troubled by the increasing call to eliminate the use of antibiotics to prevent disease in animals. As a veterinarian focused on the health of animals, I can say without question that if we lose the ability to use antibiotics for prevention purposes, more animals will die.
Animal welfare, food safety and sustainability – there are good reasons animals raised for food are given antibiotics. Responsible use of antibiotics is the key, and procedures are in place to ensure there are no unsafe residues in meat, milk and eggs.