Dive Brief:
- The National Pork Board shared progress the pork industry has made in regards to antibiotics use for food, according to a news release.
- After being the first food-animal industry to announce a stewardship plan for antibiotics use, pork farmers and processors have since invested $750,000 in five research areas, such as how antibiotics impact the environment or what alternatives exist.
- NPB named a third-party panel of non-farm experts to facilitate objective, independent counsel on the National Pork Board's current and future research, education and communication priorities. The industry also hosted several events and presentations with key influencers and the media to shape discussion around antibiotic use in both livestock and human health.
Dive Insight:
Aside from what NPB said the industry has done, pork processors have been relatively quiet when it comes to announcements regarding antibiotics use. Poultry processors in particular have made a widespread effort to phase out antibiotics from their operations and identify alternatives, such as Cargill's use of essential oils.
Cows' and pigs' biological makeup differs significantly from poultry, so their bodies react to antibiotics and alternatives in different ways. Also, they may contend with other diseases that are more common among their particular species. This presents pork and beef producers with additional challenges that chicken makers may not have had to deal with.
With consumers largely unaware of pork industry efforts,the NBP released this announcement to ensure consumers know that they have made progress.