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National Pork Producers Council critical of 60 Minutes antibiotics report

The National Pork Producers Council has responded to Sunday’s 60 Minutes story on antibiotic use in pork production, saying it failed to include “critical information” about modern pork production.

The 60 minutes story included interviews with an epidemiologist and a microbiologist who were critical of the pork industry’s use of antibiotics, and NPPC chief veterinarian Dr. Liz Wagstrom.  But NPPC says the 60 Minutes report included less than two minutes of Dr. Wagstrom’s 80-minute interview and failed to tell the whole story.

In its written response to the report, NPPC says U.S. pork producers support regulations adopted three years ago requiring veterinary oversight and limited use of antibiotics. 

NPPC says sales data reflects declining use of antibiotics in livestock, and that since 2015, there has been a 41 percent decline in antibiotic sales used for livestock.

The National Pork Producers Council declined a Brownfield request for an interview.