There is a lot of talk about imports and exports these days, stimulating a new round of questions about whether products coming into our country are safe. When it comes to food, the discussion is especially sensitive because it directly impacts our health. So, who is charged with making sure imported meat is safe? What oversight are they providing to ensure we continue to have the safest food supply in the world? My latest blog answers these questions and provides resources to learn more.
America’s public research universities are leading an initiative to address world hunger and malnutrition. The Challenge of Change Commission outlined seven challenges for public universities to address to help achieve global food and nutrition security. Food-system veterinarian Leah Dorman believes the responsible use of antibiotics in food production can be part of the solution.
There’s strong evidence antibiotics used in livestock and poultry are not driving antibiotic resistance in humans, that responsible use of antibiotics minimizes agriculture’s environmental impact, and unsafe antibiotic residue in food from animals is uncommon. While science is the foundation of those findings, and decision-making processes people use to form opinions are complex, it can be discouraging when groups or individuals choose to support science only when it agrees with issues upon which they’ve made up their minds.