A coalition of consumer groups has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the use of human antibiotics in animal feed, claiming that the practice creates “superbugs.” The suit alleges that the regulatory agency concluded in 1977 that the practice of feeding healthy animals low doses of penicillin and tetracycline could lead to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in people, reports AFP.

"However, despite this conclusion and laws requiring that the agency act on its findings, FDA failed to take any action to protect human health," the groups said in a statement.

The groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Animal Concerns Trust, Union of Concerned Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council, are asking the FDA to “take action on the agency's own safety findings, withdrawing approval for most non-therapeutic uses of penicillin and tetracyclines in animal feed.”

"Accumulating evidence shows that antibiotics are becoming less effective, while our grocery store meat is increasingly laden with drug-resistant bacteria," said Peter Lehner, NRDC executive director.

Source: AFP