The Truth on Antibiotics

by Lisa Bishop-Spencer on May 28, 2009

corn-hopper

With so many people watching their health and what they eat, many people are concerned about what goes into their food before it gets to their plate. Over the past few years, how antibiotics are used in animal care is a subject that has generated a lot of discussion. We’re here to share how this issue affects the Canadian chicken industry – this gets a little technical, but should help clear up any questions you might have.

Healthy birds are the only birds that can be in the Canadian food stream. Farmers will do whatever they can to prevent disease, illness, cross-contamination or anything that would put the Canadian chicken supply at risk.

If (and it’s not always) antibiotics are used in poultry feed, the general industry practice is that prudent use guidelines are followed, in which drugs called “ionophores” and other classes of drugs  are chosen first.These are not significantly important to humans (i.e. they’re not the ones that contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance to important human drugs).

Decisions about antibiotics are made by a veterinarian, and antibiotics, if used, represent less than one percent of the chicken feed.

CFC is involved in the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC). Part of the council’s activities has been to investigate alternatives to antibiotics, and the practicality of implementing these on farms in Canada.

Developing alternatives to antibiotics is the number one research priority of CPRC. We are also supporting the efforts of researchers who are requesting the ability to import alternative products for research purposes, so that we can examine new methods to reduce antibiotic use.

Finally, we are lobbying heavily to ensure that the government only allows the importation of poultry products that meet the same standards as are applied in Canada, specifically in regards to approved antibiotics and alternative treatment products.

In the meantime, chicken farmers work to ensure that consumers have a choice in the chicken they buy. That’s why you’ll see products like:

  • Antibiotic free or raised without antibiotics, which means what it says
  • Organic chicken (which is also antibiotic free and vegetarian grain fed, and the birds may have access to the outdoors)
  • Vegetarian grain fed ( or something similar, which means only that there are no animal by-products in the feed
  • Free range, which means that the birds have access to the outdoors
  • Other niche products that take these kinds of considerations in mind

While antibiotics are not always used in traditional farming, the “antibiotic free” label will assure you that the product has been raised without the use of antibiotics. An organic label also provides the same assurance.

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11 Comments

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

ivan mcilroy June 20, 2009 at 7:31 pm

What about the arsenic? Do you think that consumers should not be told about this? Is it some big secret what goes on? Why — are you so afraid of the Arsenic story? You should be proud of what damage you have done to cosumers and the enviroment!

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Lisa Bishop-Spencer June 21, 2009 at 9:35 am

Thanks for your comments. We understand that consumers are concerned about any type of residues in their food. We share this responsibility with our partners in industry and in government.

Most people don’t know is that arsenic is naturally occurring and that it is an approved animal feed supplement. Chicken feeds are mostly prepared in specialized feed mills. They come under the jurisdiction of the Canada Feeds Act and are subject to government inspections. There is no advantage to the miller or to the farmer not to produce or use a quality feed. Before it is put on the market chicken meat is checked for quality, absence of disease and residues.

In Canada, trace amounts of arsenic, an approved animal feed supplement, may occasionally, but are not always, be included in some chicken feed to control intestinal parasites. After all, healthy birds are the only birds that can enter the food stream. If such supplements are used, they are usually only provided in the first part of a chicken’s growth cycle.

In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency monitors for residue levels in poultry meat across Canada. No violations involving arsenic have been found.

More information can be found on the Health Canada website here:

From the site: Health Canada assesses any findings of elevated levels of arsenic in food on a case-by-case basis using the most current science available. When levels of arsenic deemed unsafe are found in food, Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency take appropriate actions such as public recalls, product detention, and the establishment of maximum limits (standards).

Health Canada continues to conduct regular surveillance of chemicals such as arsenic in food. Health Canada also collaborates with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the food industry to ensure that any foods containing arsenic at levels hazardous to human health do not reach the consumer. Additionally, Health Canada continues to evaluate the human health risks associated with exposure to contaminants from food as new data and information become available.

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Karen Simmons June 21, 2009 at 9:09 am

The compendium of medicating ingredients available through CFIA has approved the use of arsenic in chicken feed for meat birds and for layers. Through our research we have found that a great deal of the chicken being raised for restaurant chains, long-term care homes, hospitals, etc is raised using these approved feed additives. While it is not an antibiotic, (it is a poisonous heavy metal) it is used as an anti-parasitical, a growth promoter, and as a means to give the raw meat a “healthy appearance”. While you sing the praises of using minimal amounts of antibiotics, exclusive of ionophores, you do not disclose to the consumers that arsenic is used. Could this be a case of planned “dumbing of Canadians” to the point where we don’t have the brains left to protest?

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Terry E July 8, 2009 at 12:31 am

So who is responsible for truth in advertising, if a company says their chicken is fed antibiotics free feeds but antibiotics are introduced in the water.

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Marty Brett July 10, 2009 at 2:36 pm

Good question. In almost all cases, chicken raised without antibiotics will be labeled “antibiotic free” or “raised without antibiotics.” Labeling can vary from processor to processor and from store to store, but usually no reference will be made to a specific feed. With respect to the water, it is rare for antibiotics to be administered that way, but in the instances where it was, the processor would not be allowed to make any claims of the product being antibiotic free.

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Kutosi Titus September 14, 2009 at 1:36 pm

I want to rear chicken for eggs for commercial basis,but i have limited knowledge on chicken.Can you get for me all information concerning chicken right from housing,feeding,vaccination,treatment and any other issues I have mentioned hear.

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Marty Brett September 23, 2009 at 12:23 pm

There are a couple of different resources but I’d start with talking to the egg board of the province you reside in. Egg Farmers of Canada is at http://www.eggs.ca. They should be able to get you pointed in the right direction.

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gil November 3, 2009 at 10:22 pm

I was wondering: how much does it cost to feed antibiotics to a broiler chicken. (for 7 weeks?) Thanks Gil

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Marty November 4, 2009 at 1:20 pm

The cost of antibiotics depends on the type and the frequency used, so it’s more a question for a vet. It’s important to note, though, that while some broilers are given antibiotics, it is not something constantly administered during the growth period. Also, these medications are monitored by veterinarians. As with any medication use, government regulated withdrawal periods need to be observed and all medication used must be recorded as part of CFC’s On-Farm Food Safety Assurance Program. In addition, CFIA conducts an in-plant testing survey to monitor for medication residues.

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TERRY E March 31, 2010 at 6:19 pm

I read that Tyson Foods in the US were required to pay consumers for falsely advertising “raised without antibiotics” chicken. The settlement was 5 million, legal fees another 3 million. Tyson had the eggs injected with an antibiotic claiming the chickens were then “raised” without antibiotics. The USDA and the courts ruled against them. Can we trust these same claims here in Canada. Found at http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/01/tyson_suit.html

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Marty April 14, 2010 at 5:58 am

Thanks for your question Terry. Food labelling in Canada falls under the purview of Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. They are responsible for ensuring that products available to Canadian consumers are labelled correctly, allow consumers to make informed buying decisions and are not misleading. Products that claim to be raised “without” something are usually tested to ensure that this is indeed the case. The frequency for the tests is up to the CFIA, the enforcing body. Product sold as organic or “raised without the use of antibiotics” must comply with labelling regulations, and in fact, there are often 3rd party audit processes in place which are in addition to the federal inspection protocols. That’s definitely the case within the organic industry. Thanks again for the question.

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