Antibiotics

The Issue

Antibiotics have been used for many years to prevent, treat and control animal diseases in livestock. Antibiotics allow producers to raise livestock for food efficiently, boosting food security and human nutrition and health. Stakeholders must encourage the responsible use of antibiotics at the global level in order to address concerns over antibiotic resistance. Biosecurity measures, good aquaculture and livestock farming practices—along with nutritionally balanced feed, environmental management and vaccination programs—all contribute to animal health and welfare, and help reduce the need for antibiotics at the production level.

Our View

Cargill is committed to reducing the use of human antibiotics in food production. We invest in research and innovation focused on doing so while maintaining our commitment to animal welfare and the production of safe, nutritious and affordable food. 

While we support lowering overall antibiotic use and offering customer choice for animal products raised without antibiotics, we also believe the responsible, therapeutic use of antibiotics for sick animals helps maintain the safety of world food supplies. This prevents sick animals from entering the food supply, ensures they do not unnecessarily suffer from disease and supports our broader animal welfare and sustainability goals. 

Cargill favors a rigorous, globally harmonized antibiotics regulatory system that is science- and risk-based, and we support the appropriate use of government-approved antibiotics for farm animals and feed. The prudent use of these antibiotics can play a critical role in the treatment of diseases of farm animals and plants. As such, their use is essential to food safety, human health and animal welfare.