Sales of medically important antibiotics for use in livestock jumped nearly 16 percent in 2024, raising new concerns among public health advocates about the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
New data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration show sales increased to nearly 7.1 million kilograms, up from 6.1 million kilograms in 2023. That’s the largest year-over-year increase since 2017. According to the Environmental Working Group, sales of medically important antibiotics are now 28 percent higher than in 2017. Swine accounted for the largest share of antibiotic sales at 43 percent, followed by cattle at 41 percent.
While poultry represented just four percent of total sales, antibiotic use in chickens increased 79 percent from the previous year. The Environmental Working Group said the increase cannot be explained by meat production, which rose less than one percent in 2024. The organization argues antibiotics continue to be widely used to prevent disease in healthy animals.
Comments