An FDA action on an urgent health crisis adds up to almost less than nothing

Here’s a very encouraging headline from New Scientist…

“FDA bans some — but not all — farmyard antibiotics”

But when I read the article, I had to ask… “Really, New Scientist? You’re kidding. Right?”

The FDA has put “severe restrictions” on the use of cephalosporin antibiotics in farm animals.

And now for the fine print…

This class of antibiotics accounts for only 0.2% of antibiotic use on farms.

Nice work, FDA! After 30 years of tracking the antibiotic crisis, you only have 99.8% of the job left to do.

Sources:
“FDA bans some — but not all — farmyard antibiotics” New Scientist, 1/17/12, newscientist.com