FDA "orders" farmers to (volunteer to) stop antibiotics

Cow

From USA Today:


The FDA has issued a "final rule" asking farms to stop giving antibiotics to animals for the purpose of fattening them up.  The guideline is not a law, and the FDA is asking farming businesses to voluntarily comply.

They will gather data for the next three years, and then decide on further action at that point.  Well, that's that, then.

Click inside for a side note on how this story is being misreported in the media.


Major news organizations are producing huge numbers of misleading headlines on this story (including USA Today)  that will cause people to think that the FDA has actually required something.  See examples below:

FDA: Stop giving antibiotics to animals

USA TODAY 

FDA says stop feeding antibiotics to animals to make them fatter faster

Chicago Tribune 

FDA Seeks to Limit Antibiotics in Animal Feed

U.S. News & World Report 

US Tightens Rules on Antibiotics Use for Livestock

New York Times - 

FDA wants end to non-therapeutic use of antibiotics

Dairy Herd Management

Meat, Antibiotics And Superbugs: FDA Is (Finally) On The Case

AARP News