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STAT+: Advocacy groups petition FDA to withdraw approval of ‘unsafe’ use of antibiotics given to livestock

Over 60 advocacy groups have submitted a petition to the FDA requesting the withdrawal of approval for the 'unsafe' use of antibiotics in livestock to prevent disease. The groups argue that the widespread use of antibiotics in animal farming contributes to antibiotic resistance, which poses serious risks to public health, including approximately 35,000 deaths and over 2 million illnesses annually in the U.S. One of the petitioners, Peter Lehner from Earthjustice Sustainable Food and Farming, stated that the FDA is obligated to ensure that animal drugs do not harm humans and criticized the FDA

By Ed Silverman

June 17, 2026

Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer

Ed’s stories explore prescription drug pricing, affordability and access, as well issues surrounding patents, litigation, and legislation. He is also the author of the morning Pharmalittle newsletter and the afternoon Pharmalot newsletter .

More than 60 organizations filed a petition urging the Food and Drug Administration to withdraw approval for what they called the “unsafe” use of antibiotics for preventing disease in food-producing livestock.

In arguing their case, the groups noted 34 million pounds of antibiotics are used in livestock feed and water to treat diagnosed diseases. But this leads to the accumulation of bacteria resistant to antibiotics that are important for maintaining human health — and are blamed for about 35,000 deaths and over 2 million illnesses each year in the U.S.

“The FDA is obligated to ensure that drugs given to animals do not harm humans. Yet, despite overwhelming scientific evidence, the FDA has allowed this practice to continue,” said Peter Lehner, an attorney at Earthjustice Sustainable Food and Farming, one of the groups that filed the petition .

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Source document: Earthjustice Sustainable Food and Farming

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STAT NewsIndependentLeft4 days ago
STAT+: Advocacy groups petition FDA to withdraw approval of ‘unsafe’ use of antibiotics given to livestock

Over 60 advocacy groups have submitted a petition to the FDA requesting the withdrawal of approval for the 'unsafe' use of antibiotics in livestock to prevent disease. The groups argue that the widespread use of antibiotics in animal farming contributes to antibiotic resistance, which poses serious risks to public health, including approximately 35,000 deaths and over 2 million illnesses annually in the U.S. One of the petitioners, Peter Lehner from Earthjustice Sustainable Food and Farming, stated that the FDA is obligated to ensure that animal drugs do not harm humans and criticized the FDA

Bias read (Left): The article presents the issue of antibiotic use in livestock through the lens of public health risk and frames it as a regulatory failure by the FDA. It cites advocacy groups and emphasizes the dangers of antibiotic resistance without providing counterarguments or perspectives from industry or the

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  • organisation Earthjustice Sustainable Food and Farming

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  • organisationEarthjustice Sustainable Food and Farming