FDA proposes increased data collection on antibiotic use in animals that become meat

Associated Press

The Food and Drug Administration is moving to collect more information on antibiotics used in animals that become meat. It's an effort to stem antibiotic-resistant diseases.

The agency proposed a rule Tuesday that would require drug companies to collect sales information broken down by which animals are using the antibiotics. That would expand current law that now requires companies to report the overall volume they sell annually for use in food-producing animals.

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Data showing what animal species are taking the drugs could help the FDA target its efforts to reduce the amount of antibiotics in meat, the agency said.

The move is part of an Obama administration effort to decrease unnecessary use of antibiotics. Repeated exposure can lead germs to become resistant to the drugs so that they lose effectiveness.