Pew takes on farm antibiotics with D.C. ads

The twenty- and thirty-somethings who run the legislative branch of government - men and women otherwise known as congressional aides - are being greeted this month with ads attacking the livestock industry’s use of antibiotics. The ads, which are placed in the two Metro stations nearest the U.S. Capitol include messages such as “Who’s hogging our antibiotics?” and “Drug dependent” superimposed over photos of hogs. The ads also will be in Metro subway cars this month. The ads are the work of the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming, and they’re designed to win support for legislation that would phase out the non-therapeutic use in livestock of antibiotics that are important to human health. The campaign reflects concerns in the medical and scientific community that overusing antibiotics both on farms and in human use is leading to bacterial resistance to the drugs. I saw Pew interns handing out flyers to commuters outside the Capitol South Metro station this morning...DesMoinesRegister