Antibiotic overuse in food animals leads to the development of resistant "superbugs." These superbugs can cause illnesses in humans and animals that are more difficult to treat. Industrial farms routinely feed antibiotics to healthy animals to make them grow a bit faster and to compensate for overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions. Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) admitted that antibiotic overuse in food animals is a problem, but so far has done nothing to stop it.

At the end of June, the FDA released a draft voluntary guidance document describing the problem of drug abuse on farms. However, the agency failed to say how it would tackle this problem. The agency also significantly understated the amount of antibiotics that are misused on farms. The FDA is now asking for feedback on how to better address this public health issue.

FACT, as part of the Keep Antibiotics Working coalition, will be submitting extensive comments to the FDA. But we also need you to write today. Ask the FDA to take concrete steps to reduce antibiotic overuse - not just talk about the problem. Urge the FDA to prohibit the use of antibiotics for growth promotion and routine disease prevention on farm.

We need your help! Click here and ask the FDA to take concrete steps to reduce antibiotic overuse.