Some food items might seem to burden producers with the amount of ingredients that the law requires be explicitly disclosed for nutrition purposes, but also to cover the bases of every possible allergy and defect. One disclaimer that may seem especially difficult to squeeze onto food packages is the label describing a lack of antibiotics and growth hormones in food. But it could be one that gains support among consumers.
Stephen Wells, executive director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, recently contributed a piece to the Huffington Post regarding the importance of regulating antibiotic use, particularly in animals farmed for meat. According to Wells, this overuse of medical treatments in these animals contributes to the proliferation of dangerous diseases.
That’s the target of a petition started by that organization and aimed at the USDA, with the intention of convincing them of the importance of using these kinds of labels to police the use of these chemicals. In a release referred to in the story, the society claims that the majority of antibiotics in this country are given over expressly for this purpose.
Wells also specifically connects this practice with the development of so-called “superbugs.” The petition advanced by his organization would seek to prioritize making labels with high percentages.
“Federal agencies must ensure accurate labeling for the well-being of animals and the health of the public,” Wells said in a release through his group. “The abuse of drugs is fundamental to factory farming and consumers have the right to make informed choices.”
Whether or not there is legislation that requires you to disclose this information, your food labels can play into this desire for transparency and perhaps lead to better appreciation of your product because of it.
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