Pharma on Your Plate: Antibiotics, Vaccines, and Hormones in Industrial Agriculture
The pharmaceutical industry and agricultural industry are deeply intertwined; both sectors rely on each other for growth and profitability. The global farm animal drug market is expected to reach a staggering $33.2 billion by 2034. This growth is driven by the increasing global demand for meat and dairy products, as well as the need to keep farm animals healthy in increasingly industrialized settings.
Major pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer, Eli Lily, and Merck, have significant stakes in the livestock health sector, with their subdivisions accounting for 6-7 percent of their annual revenues. These companies have a vested interest in promoting the use of drugs, including antibiotics, vaccines, and hormones, in livestock production. Animal agribusiness relies heavily on these pharmaceuticals to promote growth and prevent and treat diseases in farm animals, which are often raised in intensive conditions and not provided individual veterinary care.
Consumers have long been concerned about the use of drugs in farm animals, and for good reason. The use of pharmaceuticals in the livestock industry poses several risks to human health.
One of the most alarming issues is the widespread use of antibiotics. In the United States, around 80 percent of all antibiotics are administered to farm animals, often in sub-therapeutic doses to promote growth and compensate for poor living conditions that weaken animals’ immune systems and raise the risk of outbreaks. This excessive use of antibiotics for livestock contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can spread to humans through contaminated animal products, direct contact with animals, or the environment. Research establishes that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in farm animals increases AMR in humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that antibiotic-resistant bacteria infected 2.8 million people in the United States in 2019, leading to 35,000 deaths.
Another concern is the use of hormones in livestock production. In the United States, hormones such as estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, as well as synthetic hormones like zeranol and trenbolone acetate, are approved for use in beef cattle to promote growth. Some hormones are also approved for use in sheep and dairy cattle. However, the European Union and the United Kingdom have banned the use of hormones in farm animals for over three decades due to concerns about their carcinogenic potential. Europe’s Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health concluded that no acceptable daily intake could be established for any of these hormones, raising questions about their safety when used in animals destined for human consumption.
Vaccines are also widely used in livestock to prevent diseases and maintain animal health. In some countries, including Canada, some mRNA vaccines – the same technology used to produce COVID-19 vaccines – are approved for use in farm animals. These vaccines are not yet approved for use in livestock in the United States, but studies are ongoing to determine their safety and efficacy. While vaccines play a crucial role in preventing the spread of diseases, the long-term effects of these technologies on animal and human health are not yet fully understood. Recently, legislators have raised alarms about their use; as of February 2024, there were nearly two dozen bills in 10 U.S. states that would require labels for meat from vaccinated animals, allow “mRNA-free” labels for unvaccinated animals, or ban the use of mRNA vaccines for livestock entirely.
The close relationship between animal agribusiness and the pharmaceutical industry raises concerns about the necessity of these drugs in livestock production. In many cases, the use of pharmaceuticals compensates for the unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, and unnatural growth rates demanded by major agribusiness corporations to maximize profits. This reliance on drugs may mask underlying issues in animal husbandry practices and contribute to the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
Consumers should regard the use of pharmaceuticals in the animal agribusiness sector with a critical eye and push for reduced use of antibiotics, especially those important for human medicine. The World Health Organization has warned that antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, and without urgent action, we may soon face a post-antibiotic era where common infections once again become fatal.
To address these concerns, stricter regulations on the use of pharmaceuticals in livestock production are needed, along with ongoing consumer education and a shift toward safer farming practices.