Food plays such an integral role in the lives of people every day that it has an astronomical pull on politics. Governments are forced to regulate food in order to protect its citizens. That is why one of the oldest Government agencies in the U.S. still around today is the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The purpose of the FDA is to regulate the production and distribution of food in order to uphold a standard of excellence in food for the people. Throughout its history the FDA has done a good job of performing this role, but in the last half century they have begun to fail their mission and in return, let down the citizens of the United States.
One of the ways in which the FDA is not fulfilling its role is by allowing farmers to use antibiotics on animals. Antibiotics are used on animals to expedite their growth and protect against unsanitary conditions on the farms. When farmers use antibiotics on animals, bacteria in the animals eventually evolve and become immune to antibiotics. When people eat these animals that contain immune bacteria it transfers from the animal to the people. After people catch these bacteria, then they get sick and can’t get healthier from antibiotics in medicine. As a result, a new “super” string of bacteria is introduced into the human population that can’t be stopped.
Why does the FDA allow such a dangerous practice to continue? By ignoring its fundamental duty the FDA is endangering millions of citizens nationwide. Government needs to play a bigger role in regulating big business farming techniques, i.e. antibiotics in animals. I believe that eventually the FDA will start regulating big business farming. They have to regulate food because if an incurable epidemic wipes out America, then the government will have no power. Although, let’s all hope they start doing their job before it comes to that!
One of the ways in which the FDA is not fulfilling its role is by allowing farmers to use antibiotics on animals. Antibiotics are used on animals to expedite their growth and protect against unsanitary conditions on the farms. When farmers use antibiotics on animals, bacteria in the animals eventually evolve and become immune to antibiotics. When people eat these animals that contain immune bacteria it transfers from the animal to the people. After people catch these bacteria, then they get sick and can’t get healthier from antibiotics in medicine. As a result, a new “super” string of bacteria is introduced into the human population that can’t be stopped.
Why does the FDA allow such a dangerous practice to continue? By ignoring its fundamental duty the FDA is endangering millions of citizens nationwide. Government needs to play a bigger role in regulating big business farming techniques, i.e. antibiotics in animals. I believe that eventually the FDA will start regulating big business farming. They have to regulate food because if an incurable epidemic wipes out America, then the government will have no power. Although, let’s all hope they start doing their job before it comes to that!