Get Antibiotics Out of Chicken Feed
Antibiotics are commonly added to the feed and water of animals being raised for human consumption, a practice with serious consequences for our health. Bacteria that are constantly exposed to antibiotics develop resistance to these drugs. When humans get sick from resistant bacteria, the antibiotics prescribed will no longer work.
Whats more, these antibiotics are not intended to treat sick animals, but to accelerate growth and prevent diseases caused by overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on "factory" farms.
Recently, four of the nations largest poultry corporationsTyson Foods, Gold Kist, Perdue Farms, and Foster Farms - reported that they have sharply cut back on their use of antibiotics in the feed of chickens that are not sick. The companies said that this reduction in nontherapeutic antibiotic use was made possible by improving animals living conditions and by breeding hardier chickens.
We applaud these corporations for taking an important step to protect human health and moving in the direction of sustainable farm practices. Now we need your help to urge Pilgrims Pride, the nations #2 chicken producer, to adopt a similar plan to reduce unnecessary uses of antibiotics. Sign this petition today and urge Pilgrim's Pride to protect the health of its customers by reducing antibiotic use in chickens!
Whats more, these antibiotics are not intended to treat sick animals, but to accelerate growth and prevent diseases caused by overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on "factory" farms.
Recently, four of the nations largest poultry corporationsTyson Foods, Gold Kist, Perdue Farms, and Foster Farms - reported that they have sharply cut back on their use of antibiotics in the feed of chickens that are not sick. The companies said that this reduction in nontherapeutic antibiotic use was made possible by improving animals living conditions and by breeding hardier chickens.
We applaud these corporations for taking an important step to protect human health and moving in the direction of sustainable farm practices. Now we need your help to urge Pilgrims Pride, the nations #2 chicken producer, to adopt a similar plan to reduce unnecessary uses of antibiotics. Sign this petition today and urge Pilgrim's Pride to protect the health of its customers by reducing antibiotic use in chickens!
Dear Pilgrim's Pride,
USA Today reported on January 24 that Tyson Foods, Gold Kist, Perdue Farms, and Foster Farms have dramatically reduced the use of medically important antibiotics as feed additives for chickens that are not sick. I am very encouraged by this development and am writing to urge Pilgrim's Pride to follow suit.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing crisis in public health. Antibiotics that once easily conquered bacterial infections are failing to work at an alarming rate. Bacteria become impervious to these drugs due to overuse and misuse both in medical settings and on the farm. In human medicine, doctors are working with patients to curb unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. It is time for the animal agriculture industry to adopt a more responsible approach to the use of medically important antibiotics in order to slow the rise in antibiotic resistance.
Other chicken companies have shown that antibiotic reductions can be achieved through improvements in animal husbandry and better breeding. I urge you to adopt such measures to end nontherapeutic uses of medically important antibiotics. Furthermore, I request that you institute a record-keeping system to track any therapeutic uses of antibiotics in your chicken facilities and to ensure compliance with your antibiotic-use policies through a system of purchaser and third-party audits. Your antibiotic-use policy and details about your record-keeping and audit system should be made available to the public on your company's website.
Now is the time to put an end to an unnecessary practice that threatens human health. I thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[your name]
[your address]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionUSA Today reported on January 24 that Tyson Foods, Gold Kist, Perdue Farms, and Foster Farms have dramatically reduced the use of medically important antibiotics as feed additives for chickens that are not sick. I am very encouraged by this development and am writing to urge Pilgrim's Pride to follow suit.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing crisis in public health. Antibiotics that once easily conquered bacterial infections are failing to work at an alarming rate. Bacteria become impervious to these drugs due to overuse and misuse both in medical settings and on the farm. In human medicine, doctors are working with patients to curb unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. It is time for the animal agriculture industry to adopt a more responsible approach to the use of medically important antibiotics in order to slow the rise in antibiotic resistance.
Other chicken companies have shown that antibiotic reductions can be achieved through improvements in animal husbandry and better breeding. I urge you to adopt such measures to end nontherapeutic uses of medically important antibiotics. Furthermore, I request that you institute a record-keeping system to track any therapeutic uses of antibiotics in your chicken facilities and to ensure compliance with your antibiotic-use policies through a system of purchaser and third-party audits. Your antibiotic-use policy and details about your record-keeping and audit system should be made available to the public on your company's website.
Now is the time to put an end to an unnecessary practice that threatens human health. I thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[your name]
[your address]
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