[velisapickard]

There was a very interesting interview on the Splendid Table of journalist Maryn McKenna who wrote the book "Big Chicken" about the use of antibiotics in agriculture. 

In the interview she focuses on how the use of antibiotics for animals began with chickens after WWII by A&P and the USDA with the goal of increasing demand for chicken by transforming the heirloom, backyard, lean chickens to hybridized meaty chickens.  By adding antibiotics to chicken feed and water, the chickens grow quicker (makes them put on muscle mass quicker) thus cutting feed costs.

She then goes to further discuss the problematic implications of this practice such as:
- Inhumane to animals
- Rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria.

On the bright side, she ends the interview talking about how through consumer demand, big chicken companies like Purdue are ending the use of antibiotics for chickens.

Link to the interview and transcript below!
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/antibiotics-and-the-future-of-big-chicken