From a new study at Science Daily:

A recent study by researchers at the University of Illinois found that bacteria in groundwater harbored antibiotic-resistant genes that could be linked directly to area hog farms and to underground seepage of excess manure stored in large pits known as lagoons.

Scientists have warned for many years that the overuse of antibiotics in food animal production leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that makes it harder for doctors to treat sick people. Consumers are advised to cook meat well to kill off bacteria, but this measure does not eliminate the threat of antibiotic resistance. The study illustrates that antibiotic-resistant bacteria originating in animals can make their way to humans through the environment as well as on food.

It's coming. With roughly 238,000 animal feeding operations in the U.S., which collectively generate about 500 million tons of manure per year, the time is approaching where some major health calamity will rear its ugly head and get our attention. Unless we work now to reign in these CAFOs.

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Tags: antibiotic feed, CAFO, factory farms

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