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Allergy to Antibiotics Used in Dairy

The challenge to make and keep beef safe for consumption is something every farm must face at some point. Cattle, like humans, are susceptible to bacterial infection and must be treated before being deemed safe by the FDA. Special antibiotics formulated for cattle are used to fight these infections. However, there are those who are concerned that the antibiotics could affect the quality of dairy products emanating from these cattle.

  1. History

    • The cattle industry has had guidelines in place for the use of antibiotics since 1987. These include using antibiotics that are not crucial to human medicine, treating the fewest number of animals possible and only using antimicrobials to prevent or cure disease and not to improve performance.

    Hormones

    • Some consumer activists do not believe that the governing authorities go far enough in testing for antibiotics. The tests, they argue, are narrow in scope, testing only for a few antibiotics while dozens are used. Going further, the European Union has banned the use of rBGH, which is a growth hormone. The United States currently doesn't test for rBGH in cows.

    Penicillin and Allergies

    • Milk protein often underlies a dairy allergy. Dr. Frank Oski, chairman of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, believes the allergy is based on the small amount of penicillin given to cows to treat mastitis, or inflamed udders. The cows, according to industry good practices, are not to be milked 48 hours after being given the antibiotic. Sometimes this is ignored, and the penicillin shows up in the milk supply. The human body then builds up resistance to the milk, resulting in an allergy.

    Considerations

    • Jean Carper, in her book, "Food: Your Miracle Medicine," wrote about a study of 25 asthma patients who were taken off milk and meat for four months. At four months, 71 percent experienced improvement of symptoms. After a year, 92 percent saw significant clinical improvement.

    Prevention/Solution

    • To avoid the possibility of antibiotics in your milk, seek out and purchase organic milk, which contains no hormones or antibiotics. Also, dairy alternatives, such as soy and almond milk, are good and tasty choices.

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