Food Safety Magazine, February/March 2012

Editor’s LetterAntibiotic Resistance at theForefront of Food SafetyWhile a long time coming, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has recently announced the prohibitionof the extralabel use of some cephalosporins in food-producinganimals, concerned that such continued use may lead to theemergence and dissemination of cephalosporin-resistant strains offoodborne bacterial pathogens. If these drug-resistantbacterial strains infect humans, it is likely thatcephalosporins will no longer be effective for treatingfoodborne illness in those people. FDA is particularlyconcerned about the extralabel use ofcephalosporin drugs that are not approved for usein food-producing major species because very littleis known about their microbiological or toxicological effects whenused in this manner. FDA has determined that such extralabel uselikely will cause an adverse event, presenting a risk to public health.Antibiotics are given to food animals for many reasons: for infectiousdisease treatment and control or for disease prevention beforea herd- or flock-wide outbreak occurs. In the past, usingantimicrobials for growth promotion was widely advocated to enhancethe feed-to-weight ratio for poultry, pigs and beef cattle, providinga huge economic incentive.Our cover story by Susan Vaughn Grooters, M.P.H., entitled“Antibiotic Resistance: An Emerging Food Safety Concern,” focuseson the food safety implications of the misuse and overuse ofantibiotics in food animal production. She states, “The emergenceof antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens is inherently linked tohow antibiotics have been used in food animal production. Everytime an antibiotic is used, its efficacy diminishes. Once bacteria developresistance to a given antibiotic, they often lack susceptibilityto other antibiotics that share a similar mode of action or coexiston the same bacterial plasmid. Creating policies, both in humanmedicine and animal husbandry, which will minimize the overuseand misuse of antibiotics is essential.”One only need to have a friend or family member preparing formajor surgery to be reminded of the tremendous risks associatedwith MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in hospitalsettings. And how many parents are able to say no to a prescriptionfor an antibiotic for a child with an ear infection? No matter wherewe look, antibiotic resistance touches our lives. However, in thearena of foodborne illness, it is critical that the issues be examinedvery carefully and that the correct policies be mandated.While the matter is still debated, we can all agree that antibioticresistance is a complicated issue that needs urgent attention andcontinuing dialogue as the policies of food production begin toshift to protect these essential drugs from losing their effectiveness.Best Regards,Barbara VanRenterghem, Ph.D.Editorial DirectorCEO, The Target Group Inc. Don MeekerPublisher Stacy AtchisonLucky Charm Bobby MeekerEditorial Director Barbara VanRenterghem, Ph.D.Art Director/Production Craig Van WechelCirculation Manager Andrea KargesAdministrative Manager Allison Demmert-PolandPublishing Office 1945 W. Mountain St.Glendale, CA 91201Main (818) 842-4777Fax (818) 955-9504customerservice@foodsafetymagazine.comEditorial Office 1945 W. Mountain St.Glendale, CA 91201Phone (508) 210-3149Fax (508) 210-3139barbara@foodsafetymagazine.comProduction Office 1113 Ellis StreetFt. Collins, CO 80524Phone (970) 484-4488craig@foodsafetymagazine.comAdvertising SalesBobby Meeker (818) 842-2829bobby@foodsafetymagazine.comAdam Haas (407) 601-5440adam@foodsafetymagazine.comFOOD SAFETY MAGAZINE (ISSN 1084-5984) is published bimonthly byThe Target Group Inc., 1945 W. Mountain St., Glendale, CA 91201;(818) 842-4777; Fax (818) 769-2939; E-mail info@foodsafetymagazine.com.Periodicals Postage Rate paid at Glendale, CA, and additionalmailing offices. Subscriptions: Free to qualified subscribers asdefined on the subscription card; $85.00 per year for nonqualifiedsubscribers. Back Issues: $10.00 per copy, prepaid. Change of Address:Notices should be sent promptly; provide old mailing label aswell as new address. Allow two months for change. Editorial Contributions:Unsolicited manuscripts should be submitted to: Food SafetyMagazine, 1945 W. Mountain St., Glendale, CA 91201. Notice—Everyprecaution is taken to ensure accuracy of content; however, the publisherscannot accept responsibility for the correctness of the informationsupplied or advertised or for any opinion expressed herein.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Food Safety Magazine, 1945W. Mountain St., Glendale, CA 91201. ©2012 by The Target Group Inc.All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permissionis strictly prohibited. The publishers do not warrant, either expresslyor by implication, the factual accuracy of the articles ordescriptions herein, nor do they so warrant any views or opinions offeredby the authors of said articles and descriptions.6 F O O D S A F E T Y M A G A Z I N E