Trust for America's Health Statement on the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York's Decision that FDA Unlawfully Denied Citizen Petitions to Withdraw Approval of Certain Uses of Certain Classes of Antibiotics in Food-producing Animals

News provided by

Jun 06, 2012, 04:42 ET

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Trust for America's Health (TFAH) applauds the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York's decision that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unlawfully denied citizen petitions to withdraw the approval of the usage of several different classes (including penicillin and tetracycline) of antibiotics in food-producing animals.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100204/TFAHLOGO )

The following is a statement from Jeff Levi, Executive Director of TFAH, who also serves as Chair of the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health.

"This is an important step in the fight against the routine administration of antibiotics in food-producing animals, which continues to put the health of all Americans at risk for antibiotic-resistant infections. This decision follows a 35 year delay in moving forward with withdrawing approval of penicillin and tetracycline as feed additives.

This decision should serve as a wake-up call to the federal government to more broadly and swiftly act to curb the use of antibiotics in food-animal production. If we continue down the current path, antibiotics, which we constantly rely on to treat dangerous infections, could be rendered useless in our fights to keep people healthy, happy and thriving.

TFAH applauds the Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Animal Concerns Trust, Public Citizen and Union of Concerned Scientists for bringing this incredibly important claim that moves us closer to preserving antibiotics for their rightful use: as pillars of public health."

Trust for America's Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. www.healthyamericans.org

SOURCE Trust for America's Health