■ What Are Antibiotics?
Antibiotics, in simple terms, are "antimicrobial agents." As the name suggests, they are substances used to combat "microbes" and stop the spread of bacteria that enter the body.
In other words, antibiotics refer to drugs that have the property of killing bacteria.
《 Why Are Antibiotics Administered to Livestock? 》
There is no issue with using antibiotics for the treatment of sick animals. The major problem arises when antibiotics are used for purposes other than treatment.
One such purpose is to increase the body weight of livestock.
By regularly administering antibiotics (such as monensin sodium) below therapeutic levels or mixing them into the feed, the body weight of the livestock can increase by 10% to 20% within a short period. In other words, this leads to increased production and profits.
Additionally, from the perspective of pharmaceutical companies, selling antibiotics for livestock use is more efficient than selling them for human medical purposes. In some countries, approximately 80% of antibiotic use is for promoting the growth of healthy livestock.
Another reason for administering antibiotics to livestock is to maintain their health under crowded and unsanitary conditions, where diseases can easily spread.
■ What Is the Problem with Antibiotics?
While antibiotics are originally intended for the treatment of diseases, what are the issues?
The problem lies in the overuse of antibiotics, which can lead to the development of "antibiotic-resistant bacteria" within the bodies of livestock. This poses a risk of infection in humans through meat consumption.
Once infected with these "resistant bacteria," it becomes challenging to treat any diseases in humans, and controlling their spread is also difficult. This can lead to serious public health threats, including the outbreak of epidemics.
■ WHO (World Health Organization) Advises Farmers to Stop Administering Antibiotics to Livestock
On November 7, 2017, the WHO advised farmers and the food industry to stop using antibiotics for routine growth promotion and disease prevention in livestock. They issued a strong warning about the increasing risk of antibiotics becoming ineffective due to misuse and overuse, both in humans and animals.
The global spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a growing concern. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, if no action is taken, it is estimated that 10 million people will die annually by 2050 due to antibiotic-resistant infections.
In the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria result in 33,000 deaths per year. Urgent and effective measures are required.
However, the current situation in our country is that these issues are being ignored.
It's not the fat in meat or your age that causes indigestion or discomfort.
■ Is Antibiotics Administered to All Meat?
The decision to use antibiotics is made by individual "farms," not the "country." Countries only grant or deny permission but do not enforce usage.
■ Escomeat's Approach to Antibiotics
At Escomeat, we primarily source beef from Masuda Wagyu at Minakami-cho, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. We insist on the following:
No use of antibiotics
Japanese Black cattle (Kuroge Wagyu)
Female cows
We have strong convictions about this. If you've made it this far, we hope you will understand the current situation and help spread the word.
Various interests are involved, so the livestock industry does not actively discuss these topics. The government, which is in a position to protect the industry and is influenced by it, is also the same.
Unless more consumers demand meat without antibiotics, the meat industry will not change. There is hardly any legal framework to curb the increasing use of antibiotics in this country.
We believe that it is essential for both retailers and consumers to make efforts to understand what truly makes meat delicious and safe.
The era of selecting beef based on brand or grade is over.
We hope you will enjoy our carefully selected meat in your homes and continue to lead healthy and happy lives. You can purchase various products by weight (100g increments) at the link below. Please feel free to take a look.
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