Couric Preview: Antibiotics

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Sneak Preview

CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric previews her story tonight about a possible threat to your health.

It's estimated that as much as 70 percent of the antibiotics in this country went to agriculture last year. They're given to farm animals, to make them big and healthy – and to prevent disease.

Experts warn that the overuse of antibiotics in animals is leading to creation of new strains of drug-resistant bacteria - that can infect you and me.

Will fewer drugs will be effective in humans who really need them as a result?

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by ddveld February 14, 2010 2:06 PM EST: I live in an area that is very highly populated with "factory farms", namely swine. I also work as a swine tech for one of these corporations that raise swine. I saw Katie's piece on the investigation of the overuse of antibiotics in livestock. My opinion is that these practices were once being widely used but my experience within the swine industry is that this is not the case anymore. I feel Katie's piece was informative but slanted to alarm and upset the consumer. She needs to investigate and report on the WHOLE picture. The swine industry is constantly regulating itself in every aspect and always changing their practices to provide a better and safer product for the consumer. I am only one person who works within this industry and cannot speak for the practices of other industries but I have no problem eating or feeding this product to my family and neither should you. Use your own judgment: Is this another attempt of the news organizations to alarm people for sensationalism? Come on, use your heads. Get the facts first.; Reply to this comment


by rcomm56 February 14, 2010 1:41 PM EST: It's unfortunate that most consumers do not recognize the real issue within this piece. Granted, antibiotics are used to facilitate animal health. If you have ever raised young animals you understand just how very quickly one can be lost, despite conscientious care and good management. While we are NOT a factory farm, we do use antibiotics (for example low dose in milk replacer) to safeguard against pneumonias or strep infections. On the other hand, we also do NOT excessively use antibiotics for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is their expense! While I am not supportive of factory farms (at all), it is time for the consuming public to stand up in support of PRODUCERS versus merrily going to the supermarket or quick mart to pick up milk or dairy products with no concern as to who is actually being PAID for the product. Consumers need to demand that those producing the item actually receive fair and equitable payment rather than having the big corporations who markt the product to bypass producers and scarf up the money for themselves. This would result in producers receiving reasonable payment for their effort and thus not being forced to try to mass-produce (via factory farms) their product. Definitive and constructive help versus negative commentary would be greatly appreciated by producers and much more effective in diminishing the over-use of antibiotics. You will find that the vast majority of producers are not heartless, money-grundging people. We take excellent care of our animals -- our responsibility as well as our livelihood --- and are the creatures we spend the majority of our time with! Please don't just criticize but take steps to actually help and resolve the problem.; Reply to this comment


by lpigna February 11, 2010 8:43 PM EST: Katie, Your piece on antibiotic use in our food supply left out some very important facts. Did you know that most of the "factory farms" in this country are run by farmers who are paid by larger corporations to raise and slaughter the animals? These corporations are allowed to have factory farms, or CAFOs (Concentrated Animal feeding Operation) because under the 14th ammendment, corporations have the same rights as individuals, and although these practices are harmful to our health, to outlaw them would be stripping the corporations'rights. How's THAT for irony? What about OUR rights? Here in Lehigh Township, PA, we have banned as a community to not allow such a travesty in our township, and the one proposed has now been withdrawn. We will do whatever is necessary to keep this horror from ever occurring here. There is also a movement to overturn Act 38 which also gives corporations the "right" to practice such farming. However, this is not farming as we know it. The factory farms you visited in your piece were clean and the animals appeared well cared for. However, I refer you to The Humane Farming Association for more info into the treatment of animals on most factory farms in this country. The overuse of antibiotics, steroids and hormones is detrimental to ALL of our health, even if we don't ingest the meat from these farms, our air and water supply is damaged, often irrevocably, by these practices. In many states, they are now banned due to the damage caused to the environment. There is so much more into this topic that should be exposed, I hope you will continue your investigation. If nothing else, it will be a real eye opener.; Reply to this comment


by George Bertoli February 11, 2010 6:10 PM EST: Katie,

My wife and I enjoyed your reporting on animals receiving antibiotics even though they aren't sick. You need to point out that the countries that have banned the use of antibiotics have Nationalized Health Care, unlike the USA. In this country, the insurers can circumvent paying for the illnesses caused by these antibiotics by delaying payment, adding them to preexisting conditions, etc. In Europe, the countries watch for things that might make their populations sick and cause a spike in health care costs. George & Kathy; Reply to this comment


by hoodoomama February 10, 2010 8:03 PM EST: I hope that now the FDA will be more proactive in protecting our food supply. Antibiotics in our meat and poulty has been a big problem for decades. Healthy food is out there. We have to support the farmers who are antibiotic free poultry and beef. We should protect our farmers and farm land so that we can continue to grow a large portion of our own food here in this country. Not only is this a health matter it is also a strategic concern. I hope you watch this short video about free range turkeys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FR-o8eAC48; Reply to this comment

by carlbaumann February 10, 2010 4:51 PM EST

What a terrible piece of reporting for the upcoming evening news. People who do not know what they are talking about giving out information that is twisted to suit their agenda. Farmers who make a living providing food for consumers do not mistreat their animals nor do they give their animals unnecessary medicine or antibiotics. The US of A has the safest food supple possible and the cheapest anywhere in the world. The use of words and phrases to falsely describe our industry is a cheap shot hoping to cause alarm and sell their "news". Come to the farm and see for yourself how animals are raised and care for. I'll bet the farmer from central Missouri had an agenda he wanted to promote. Carl Baumann Highland, IL

Reply to this comment


by me1941 February 10, 2010 8:48 PM EST: As I read the comments I feel bad for the farmer and rancher that do things right and take offense to this article......this article is reporting on the CAFO's, Confined Animal Feeding Operations, better known as Factory Farms. It would be to the advantage for the smaller farmers and ranchers to devorce themselves from these huge operations.....commonly known as Corporate farms. This CAFO industry is not farming or ranching, you know that. I have one of the Dairy CAFO's less than 3/4 of a mile from me. I have been an astmatic since I was 12 years old. The Gas from their sespit just shuts me down....I can't breath and must leave my home when it is hanging over our home......and we own the farm we live on. The EPA and the American Medical Association have both come out with negitive reports on CAFO's and their effect on the health of those that live near them.

Therefore, you farmers and ranchers that are doing it correct need to get involved in a DEVORCE action with the CAFO's. They are not farming or ranching and should not live under the same rules that farmers and ranchers live under. Only you can do something about....get involved.


by carlbaumann February 10, 2010 4:50 PM EST: What a terrible piece of reporting for the upcoming evening news. People who do not know what they are talking about giving out information that is twisted to suit their agenda. Farmers who make a living providing food for consumers do not mistreat their animals nor do they give their animals unnecessary medicine or antibiotics. The US of A has the safest food supple possible and the cheapest anywhere in the world. The use of words and phrases to falsely describe our industry is a cheap shot hoping to cause alarm and sell their "news". Come to the farm and see for yourself how animals are raised and care for. I'll bet the farmer from central Missouri had an agenda he wanted to promote. Carl Baumann Highland, IL; Reply to this comment


by nmo4crafter February 10, 2010 9:35 AM EST: I was pleased to see your story on the dangers of antibiotics in the factory farming industry. I've been reading a lot about this recently, from many different sources, and wondering why I haven't seen any mention of it in the popular media. However, I was disappointed because your story didn't go far enough. I wish you had a bit more discussion of the reasons WHY the CAFO's (confined animal feeding operations) find it necessary to give the animals antibiotics: raising genetically modified animals in extremely overcrowded conditions, living their entire lives standing and laying in their feces makes it impossible for them to be healthy without antibiotics. This method of raising animals is cruel and inhumane to them, in addition to producing unhealthy conditions for us, and most people are completely unaware.; Reply to this comment


by meggie062 February 9, 2010 8:40 PM EST: Dear Mrs.Couric

My name is Mel, i live in Grand Prairie, TX.My son is 21 and is a carrier
of MRSA he takes Antibiotics everyday ,as far as i can rememmer he has had the sings sence he was about 13,one year ago he was put in the hospital,they never found what was wrong with him,In nov of 2009 he was tested for MRSA posative .Dr. say he is a carrier,It worries me because i dont know what the long turn outcome of this is going to be for him.all we know as of now is that he has to take the Antibiotics for a very long time ,can you please help me to learn more about this ,we have went online research we have talk to DR. but still do not understand. will my son live or ever be able to work ,how long will he be a carrier of this please help thank you mel; Reply to this comment


by wuorenma1 February 9, 2010 7:05 PM EST: I just saw the anti-food thing on the channel. Digging the farmers a hole for them to pitch dirt into is bad for your program. The segment went on-and-on about pigs...beef...chicken...THEN the last picture was a picture of TURKEY meat?? RU a vegan and who funds this junk? I worked in a vegetable canning factory and RULE ONE...wash your clothes and body (everyday). This might help the poor folks that were sick? RLW, Wisconsin; Reply to this comment