Antibiotics are a critical tool for preventing, controlling and treating disease in animals. Their proper therapeutic use actually makes our food supply safer. If a veal calf becomes sick, an FDA approved antibiotic can be used as directed by a licensed veterinarian and according to its label for dosage, administration route and withdrawal time. As soon as the animal recovers, the use of any medication is discontinued. Veal production protocols for AHCP usage, that have been in place for years, represent a practical model for the new FDA regulations for the judicial use of antimicrobials in all other food producing animals.
To learn more about the new animal feed safety regulations and the use of antibiotics to protect public health, visit the Animal Health Institute.