Antibiotic Symposium Establishes New Benchmark

Researchers and experts in animal health and human health shared scientific and thought-provoking information to participants of the "Antibiotic Use in Food Animals: A Dialogue for a Common Purpose" symposium, Oct. 26-27, in Chicago. Sponsored by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA), the symposium proved to be a two-way dialogue, with attendees asking pointed questions and adding to the discussions.

"The symposium established a new benchmark of valuable information and science that can be used to further communicate valid and essential facts to animal agriculture producers as well as consumers regarding the use of antibiotics in food animal production," states Leonard Bull, Ph.D., who served as planning committee chair for the symposium. "Divergent opinions were openly expressed and areas of consensus were developed."

Speaker presentations are available online at www.animalagriculture.org. Topics covered include the changing landscape of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance and antibiotic product development, human health implications relative to antibiotic use, government regulatory oversight and risk mitigation, livestock methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and connecting with consumers. A white paper is being developed and will be available online at NIAA's website.