Antibiotic use in animal and its impact on human health.

Antibiotics are used for treatment of certain diseases in animals ,but they are also incorporated into production and management in livestock. Antibiotics are used for improved performance in growth and feed efficiency, to synchronize reproductive cycle,breeding performance and control of reproductive cycle.The use of antibiotics in food animals raises concern on 2 levels: 1) the antibiotic residue in food animals result in potential toxicity and 2) the residue in milk,meat,and eggs changes the normal flora of the gut resulting in development of resistant strains of bacteria which are now resistant to normal antibiotic therapy. The use of antibiotics in food animals have tolerance levels as stipulated by W.H.O and F.A.O,but most producers do not align their production along stipulated standards.The antibiotics have stipulated withdrawal times that must elapse before such animals are slaughtered, the noncompliance with these periods are responsible for this global hazard. Antibiotic residue in food animal is a global concern because of the potential hazard it breeds,as most health concerns in man have been traced to these residues in food animals.The up surge of diabetes, obesity,kidney failure and hypertension has been linked to these residues,this is the reason most people and now certain organization have turned the organic way.People /food corporations have imbibed a no-antibiotic-ever in their foods because of the resultant effect of better health . A food company in the U.S: PERDUE FOODS, have introduced a no-antibiotic ever in their production, as they have stopped using antibiotics as growth promoter or in their hatcheries due to public concerns about the impact of antibiotic use in food animals and the impact of this on the efficacy of treatment in humans. The company has introduced its new line of no-antibiotic ever products to the school lunch program and to the public. It is of value to remember that production/animal husbandry before the new age was done with natural ingredients without any genetic alteration,antibiotic promoters and the rate of production normal,but with increasing demand of all these products,the producers embarked on a journey of fast growth, bigger egg sizes, faster feed efficiency all in the shortest possible time has culminated in these surge of health issues. Diseases hitherto un common have now evolved because of all these changes in animals,their products and consequent interaction with MAN. The fact still remains you are what you eat or better still you are what your animals eat.