Over 650,000 Meals in Hospitals Will Now be Served Without Antibiotic-Infested Meat

Over 650,000 Meals in Hospitals Will Now be Served Without Antibiotic-Infested Meat Due to Super-Bugs​

By Christina Sarich Published: Sunday 9 June 2013

Due to a precedent-setting move by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center and a recent almost-unanimous vote by the Academic Senate of the university, over 650,000 meals served to hospital patients each year will now be free of meat that has been treated with antibiotics.

“There is overwhelming scientific consensus that overuse of antibiotics in livestock is a health hazard to people,” remarked Dr. Thomas Newman, a member of the Senate.

Livestock are often fed everything from penicillin to macrolide to ensure their health, but often to the detriment of the people who consume their meat. Ranchers and farmers discovered several decades ago that feeding their livestock just small doses of these antibiotics could fatten them up for market, and bring in larger profits. This practice isn’t often publicized, so many people are unaware of the practice. A doctor who has studied this subject Stuart B. Levy, M.D., estimates that there are 15-17 million pounds of antibiotics used sub-therapeutically in the United States each year.

What happens when humans eat antibiotic-infused meat, is that certain bacteria in the animal becomes resistant to the antibiotic and grows stronger. We consume those unsavory bacteria and can become very ill, and then trying to treat us with antibiotics becomes impossible. This situation is much like the super-weeds that are growing due to the over-use of Monsanto’s GMO poison, Roundup, the good bacteria cannot over-run the bad. We then create super-bugs that are resistant to any type of treatment.

Opposing this argument is Dr. Margaret Mellon, with the Union of Concerned Scientists, ”There is no evidence that antibiotic resistance is not a problem, but there is insufficient evidence as to how big a problem it is.” If this were true, why did methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) get a foothold in the 1960s ? The overuse of antibiotics in general has already caused several cases of superbugs.

It is no surprise that hospitals are interested in changing their meat procurement practices, since the primary means of treating an ill person in the hospital is either through surgery or pharmaceutical drugs, but what does this issue of Super Bugs have in common with Super Weeds? It seems quite obvious that messing with Mother Nature results in some pretty fantastic tragedy for the human race.

 

Re: Over 650,000 Meals in Hospitals Will Now be Served Without Antibiotic-Infested Me

OK, tried to find out in five minutes or less where to get an antibiotic free steak, not that easy.

Harris Teeter, yes some of it. Variable quality, in my opinion.

http://www.harristeeter.com/in_our_...chers_market/harris_teeter_naturals/beef.aspx

Wegmans organic and angus: yes, other types unknown. They do carry a good steak, but rarely go there due to insanity trying to enter exit that shopping center.

http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/s...splay?storeId=10052&partNumber=UNIVERSAL_3014

Costco, no antibiotics offered (warning pdf link, but a very good article). Also a good steak at a good price. Consistent quality.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cont...les/health/CR Meat On Drugs Report 07-12b.pdf

Safeway also offers, have not tried.

Walmart does not offer - they are all about negotiating with suppliers to the last penny so makes sense I guess.

This was the most useful link for label info etc that I ran across in looking at this. Also contains a link to the pdf mentioned above:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...re-widely-used-by-u-s-meat-industry/index.htm

 

Re: Over 650,000 Meals in Hospitals Will Now be Served Without Antibiotic-Infested Me

Mike,

We are in the process of transitioning our meat/chicken purchase from local growers. It takes a little bit planning and once you get to know the farmer it gets easier.

Farmers Market in Leesburg is the most established one.

http://www.chicamarun.com/ is one of the farmer you can check out. There are few others.

We usually go early in the morning when they open. Earlier is better since they may run out but if you call and let them know-they will bring what you order for you to pick up.

Let us know if you give it a try!

 

Re: Over 650,000 Meals in Hospitals Will Now be Served Without Antibiotic-Infested Me

I like the idea of supporting local, will have to look for them.

I'm going to miss putting the top down and going the back way on sycolin to that farmer's market while they work on the overpass. Five minutes of undeveloped country scenery only a few minutes away.

Cool, they sell fractions of the cow also.

http://www.chicamarun.com/beef.html

Used to get a half cow every year when we were kids (3 younger brothers). Kim's family did that too. I wonder if anyone does that anymore.

 

Re: Over 650,000 Meals in Hospitals Will Now be Served Without Antibiotic-Infested Me

Here is a link to look up all the local farms and markets:

http://www.buylocalvirginia.org/search/search-result.cfm?type=any&County=458&keyword=

I also dropped of copies of the 2013 Buy Local Buy Fresh Guide at the Nature Center if you want to just pick one up.

It was mailed out to every household in Loudoun in late April but we never got ours.

 

Re: Over 650,000 Meals in Hospitals Will Now be Served Without Antibiotic-Infested Me

You could also try Fields of Athenry, they are a great farm and the owners are awesome;

http://fieldsofathenryfarm.com/

 

We like Fields of Athenry farm in Purcellville. They deliver to your house on Thursdays for a small fee. Excellent cheeses and awesome meats - chicken, beef, lamb, pork. Www.fieldsofathenryfarm.com. You can also visit their farm and farm store on the weekends.

-- Dusti