Antibiotics in Meat & Anti Bacterial Soaps
Antibiotics in Meat & Anti Bacterial Soaps
Two alarming announcements have come out with the past several days:
Antiobiotics on the Farm. The use of antibiotics in farm animals consumed by humans is creating more resilient strands of bacteria. Bacteria are becoming more immune to many common forms of prescribed antibiotics. It is not just the presence of antibiotics in meat but also over-prescription of antibiotics drugs by medical doctors is a major culprit as well. Here is what is alarming: according to the Washington Post, at least 2 million people in the United States become infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria each year and at least 23,000 people die as a result. See Brad Plumer’s piece on what you should know about antibiotics at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/14/the-fda-is-cracking-down-on-antibiotics-at-farms-heres-what-you-should-know/ Read the rest of this post »
New “Country-of-Origin” Labels or “COOL” Things for Meat
New “Country-of-Origin” Labels or “COOL” Things for Meat
New regulations come into effect this Saturday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding labeling meat. Specifically, the new federal labeling rules require meat processors to list the details of where livestock was born, raised and slaughtered. The new regulations update a certain law known as the “country-of-origin” labeling or also known as “COOL.” To review the new federal COOL rules and USDA’s fact sheet, go to: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/COOL and to http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/country-of-origin-labeling-for-meat-and-chicken/country-of-origin-labeling-for-meat-and-chicken Food products contained in the law include muscle cut and ground meats: beef, veal, pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts; and ginseng. The law was enacted by Congress in 2002. Much of its political support drew from concerns over the safety of imported meats and in particular, mad-cow disease. Many consumer advocacy groups that support transparency in labeling praise the new law as an important step in allowing consumers to make informed choices. 
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