I'd like to hear a reasoned argument in favor of deleting them from the food chain.And when I say "reasoned" I'm not talking about "environmentalists" or "animal rights activists".They're the last ones I'd see as being capable of "reason".I'm talking about scientists...scientists without a political or societal ax to grind.
It’s very important to your gut microbiome to minimize antibiotic exposure. Mainstream medicine is really behind the learning curve on how vital this is to overall health, including your immune system and mental health.
Two doctors that are extensively interested in this topic are Dr. Mercola who has some articles on food antibiotics on his website, and Dr. Perlmutter, whose best-known book is Grain Brain, but has also written a book totally devoted to the gut microbiome, called “Brain Maker.”
Many in this field feel that messed up gut microbes contribute to a wide range of diseases, from autoimmune to depression to chronic pain from inflammation.
The use of antibiotics in chickens is not of great importance. Antibiotic use can increase resistance in bacteria if we do not eat raw chicken (I do not) the chance of spreading this resistance to humans is small. I do eat raw beef as in steak tartar. It is delectable but does carry a risk that I willing take.
Per the FDA about 25% of raw poultry is contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella is a normal bacteria in the gut of all birds. It does not hurt them but will sure as hell make humans sick. If you buy a pack of chicken with many thighs or breasts in it there is almost a certainty it is contaminated. This is really not a problem. Cook it to the proper temperature and clean you work area well. I like chicken.
Few pathogenic bacteria cross species lines but some do. The resistance to antibiotics we see in humans is almost always a result of human to human bacterial resistance caused by antibiotic use in humans and not animals. E Coli is a major exception and a few others. That is where my love of steak tartar gives me risk. I am will not stop eating it nor will I stop eating ceviche. Steak tartar never did me in but ceviche did once. It was contaminated by unhygienic preparation. It tasted great but I did pay a price.
cpdiii “Clinical Pharmacist”