Walmart apparently has heard people’s concerns about antibiotics used in food production. The country’s largest food retailer last week asked suppliers to limit antibiotic use in meat, seafood, dairy and egg to medical uses.
Widespread concern exists about the public health implications of giving animals antibiotics for growth purposes. Concerns center around overuse prompting antibiotic resistance for diseases contracted by people who consume meat and poultry filled with such antibiotics.
The Food and Drug Administration is trying to collect data on the amount of antibiotics used to promote growth in animals.
“Wal-Mart’s move is the most significant by a retailer so far, advocates said. Since it controls a quarter of the U.S. grocery market, the guidelines will likely ripple through the entire food supply chain and prompt rivals to follow suit,” Reuters reported.
This is another example of a large company responding to public concerns because it realizes not responding could hurt it’s bottom line.
Business is about profit, the food business is no different in that regard, so showing food retailers and processors that doing something that’s unhealthy for their consumers will mean lower sales is the best way to elicit such changes.
Vote with your wallets by buying food low in salt, far and sugar, and antibiotics.
John