A coalition of 65 health, environmental, consumer, and animal welfare groups has filed a citizen petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to end the routine use of antibiotics in food-producing animals. The petition, submitted on June 18, 2026, argues that such practices contribute to antimicrobial resistance, a major public health threat.
The groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Natural Resources Defense Council, call for the FDA to revoke approvals for medically important antibiotics used for disease prevention in healthy animals. They cite data from the World Health Organization linking agricultural antibiotic use to drug-resistant infections in humans.
According to the FDA's 2024 summary report, sales of medically important antibiotics for food animals rose by 5% from 2023 to 2024, reversing a decade-long decline. The petition requests that the FDA implement a 180-day phase-out of such uses, with exceptions for treating diagnosed illnesses.
FDA officials have acknowledged receipt of the petition and stated they will review it according to standard procedures. The agency has not set a timeline for a decision. Similar petitions in the past have led to voluntary changes by industry, but not a full ban.
