Is Beef Labeled "Raised Without Antibiotics" Actually Antibiotic-Free? A Disturbing Report Reveals, Maybe Not

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2 days ago

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One of the best tips for grocery shopping is to always read labels. From checking the expiration date to knowing what's in your food, it's best to be fully informed before you add anything to your shopping cart. But what about when the packaging is misleading? That's exactly what's happening right now with beef from some of the world's biggest suppliers.
According to a report by Sentient Media, last summer members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food & Safety Inspection Service — a team within the USDA that makes sure food is safe and accurately labeled — discovered that antibiotics had been used by dozens of meat providers that sell meat labeled as 'antibiotic-free.' They found that 20 percent of the sample of meat labeled as antibiotic-free tested positive for antibiotics. The organization sent out letters to inform these companies, including Tyson, Cargill, and JBS, of their findings.
The USDA recommended that these meat producers take steps to figure out how the antibiotics were administered to the animals, and do whatever is necessary to make sure that beef products are no longer mislabeled. But that doesn't mean the companies are doing it. In fact, the USDA keeps approving labels from these same brands without requiring them to show proof of this claim.
Essentially there's a widespread mislabeling happening in grocery stores right now. When shoppers intend to purchase beef 'raised without antibiotics,' there's no guarantee that they're actually buying what they want. There's also a concern that overusing antibiotics causes bacteria to evolve more rapidly and become resistant to the drugs when they are actually medically necessary for humans and animals alike.
The USDA has updated its guidelines, recommending that companies use a third-party certification to confirm any animal-raising claims, but it's still just a recommendation that has yet to actually be enforced.
So, what's the average consumer to do? Right now it's hard to say exactly how to confirm that your meat is in fact free of antibiotics. The best you can do is stay aware of the ongoing mislabeled packaging, and try to shop locally and at farmers markets whenever possible.
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