Episode 45: Antibiotics in Food Animal Production with Dr. James Johnson

On this week’s episode of Straight, No Chaser, Katy Keiffer is talking with Dr. James Johnson. James R. Johnson, M.D. is Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota, Director of the Infectious Diseases T32 Training Program and Senior Associate Director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program (both, University of Minnesota), and Director of the Minneapolis VA Molecular Epidemiology Unit. Dr. Johnson is a frequently invited speaker at national and international scientific meetings, has presented at Capitol Hill briefings and hearings, and has served on multiple national task forces, committees, and grant review panels. He serves as an Attending Physician for the VA Infectious Diseases Consult Service and Infectious Diseases Clinic, and sits on multiple hospital committees, including (currently) the Antimicrobial Subcommittee, Space Committee, and Institutional Biosafety Committee. Tune into this episode to learn about the spread of resistant strains of bacteria, and how mere contact can cause extreme contamination. Hear how nations abroad have curbed antibiotic use food animals, and how it has affected food safety. Listen in to hear Dr. Johnson and Katy discuss the measures that consumers can take to protect and educate themselves from the ever-prevalent problem of food contamination. This episode has been brought to you by White Oak Pastures. “The U.S. uses more antibiotics per animal per pound of meat that comes to market than any other industrialized country for which we have data.” [10:00] “To suggest that one needs growth promoter to have a healthy agriculture industry is patently false as demonstrated by the totality of Europe.” [23:50] — Dr. James Johnson on Straight, No Chaser See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.