In the past antibiotics were given freely and overused. Recently we have begun to be more cautious so as to prevent resistant germs.
However, more evidence is arising that the germs that grow in your intestine can affect your health. Using antibiotics, and possible eating meat that contains trace amounts, can change your "gut microbiome" or naturally occurring germs in the intestine.
Not only have changes been associated with obesity and intestinal disorders, but a recent article showed that such changes greatly increase your risk for asthma. We don't fully understand the interaction at this time, but is is clearly important to our health.
I was upset to see recently that the FDA has decided to allow some 18 of 30 penicillin and tetracycline antibiotics used as additives in animal feed. Even though this puts humans at high risk for exposure to resistant bacteria through the food supply, according to an FDA analysis of 2001-2010 data. And who knows what it does to our microbiome.
You may have heard that giving animals antibiotics increases yield. While this was true when the practice was started, further study showed that keeping the pens clean and washing them down before transferring animals had the exact same effects. This is now standard practice, and many studies have shown no advantage to antibiotics. This makes the FDA decision even more suspect.
In any case, stay away from antibiotics whenever possible and do not eat meat that has been fed antibiotics (or hormones of course). Stay healthy!!
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