EPA Pushed to Prohibit Spraying of Antibiotics on US Food Crops Amidst Superbug Concerns

A newly filed formal request from multiple health advocacy and agricultural labor organizations is urging the US environmental regulator to cease permitting the use of antibiotics on food crops across the United States, citing superbug spread and health risks to farm laborers.

Agricultural Industry Sprays Large Quantities of Antibiotic Pesticides

The farming industry uses approximately 8m lbs of antibiotic and antifungal treatments on American plants annually, with several of these substances prohibited in foreign countries.

“Every year Americans are at greater threat from toxic microbes and diseases because human medicines are sprayed on produce,” stated an environmental health director.

Superbug Threat Presents Major Public Health Threats

The excessive use of antimicrobial drugs, which are essential for combating human disease, as agricultural chemicals on fruits and vegetables endangers public health because it can result in superbug bacteria. Likewise, excessive application of antifungal agent pesticides can create fungal infections that are less treatable with existing medical drugs.

• Drug-resistant illnesses affect about 2.8m individuals and result in about 35,000 mortalities per year.
• Health agencies have linked “medically important antibiotics” authorized for agricultural spraying to drug resistance, increased risk of bacterial illnesses and elevated threat of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Environmental and Health Consequences

Furthermore, eating antibiotic residues on food can alter the digestive system and increase the risk of persistent conditions. These substances also taint aquatic systems, and are thought to affect pollinators. Often low-income and Hispanic farm workers are most at risk.

Common Antibiotic Pesticides and Industry Methods

Agricultural operations use antibiotics because they kill bacteria that can damage or destroy produce. One of the most frequently used antibiotic pesticides is streptomycin, which is often used in healthcare. Estimates indicate up to 125,000 pounds have been sprayed on American produce in a annual period.

Citrus Industry Lobbying and Government Response

The petition is filed as the EPA encounters pressure to expand the use of human antibiotics. The crop infection, transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid, is devastating orange groves in Florida.

“I understand their critical situation because they’re in serious trouble, but from a societal point of view this is absolutely a obvious choice – it should not be allowed,” the expert said. “The bottom line is the massive challenges created by using human medicine on food crops greatly exceed the crop issues.”

Other Approaches and Future Outlook

Advocates suggest simple agricultural actions that should be implemented initially, such as planting crops further apart, breeding more hardy varieties of crops and locating sick crops and rapidly extracting them to stop the pathogens from transmitting.

The formal request provides the Environmental Protection Agency about five years to act. Several years ago, the organization prohibited a chemical in response to a similar regulatory appeal, but a legal authority overturned the EPA’s ban.

The agency can enact a ban, or has to give a justification why it won’t. If the regulator, or a subsequent government, does not act, then the coalitions can file a lawsuit. The process could last many years.

“We are pursuing the long game,” the expert remarked.