Reps. Markey, Slaughter Press FDA on Antibiotic Use in Ethanol Production

FoodSafetyNews.com
by Helena Bottemiller
May 14, 2012

Congressional query follows IATP report on distillers grains fed to animals


With growing concern over antibiotic resistance, public health advocates have long pushed for more responsible use of these drugs -- both in human medicine and animal agriculture -- but there is one piece of the antibiotics puzzle that has not received as much attention: ethanol production.

Last week, Reps. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) wrote to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asking some tough questions about the potential link between ethanol byproducts in animal feed and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

"Antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria are a grave public health threat that is growing worldwide," wrote Markey and Slaughter. "As the threat of antibiotic resistance expands, we must ensure that the unnecessary use of antibiotics in agricultural animals is minimized and FDA has the ability to limit their use if it serves to protect public health."

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Antibiotics pose concern for ethanol producers

AgWeek
Mark Steil, Minnesota Public Radio News
Published: 04/06/2009

WORTHINGTON, Minn. — Ethanol’s main by-product, which is sold as livestock feed, has raised potential food safety concerns.

Several studies have linked the byproduct, known as distillers grain, to elevated rates of E. coli in cattle. And now, distillers grain is facing further scrutiny because the Food and Drug Administration has found that it often contains antibiotics left over from making ethanol.

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