Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest public health threats of the 21st century. The World Health Organization warns that a post-antibiotic era, where common infections and minor injuries can once again kill, is no longer a distant risk but a present danger. Each year, antibiotic-resistant infections cause more than two million illnesses and 23,000 deaths in the U.S., costing society between $55 and $70 billion. Globally, experts project up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if current practices continue unchecked. 

The main driver is industrial animal agriculture. In the United States, up to 80% of all antibiotics sold are administered to livestock, often to healthy animals, to promote faster growth or prevent disease in crowded, unhealthy conditions. This misuse accelerates the spread of resistant bacteria, or “superbugs,” that threaten both animal and human health. 

As You Sow engages food producers and restaurant chains to adopt responsible antibiotic policies across their supply chains. We urge companies to phase out routine antibiotic use, especially in drug classes critical for human medicine, and to adopt third-party certified animal welfare standards that keep livestock healthy without excessive drug dependence. These steps protect consumers, preserve the effectiveness of life-saving medicines, and strengthen brand trust. 

To learn more about the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance, visit the CDC’s Fact Sheet on Antibiotic Use in Food-Producing Animals. 

By transforming corporate practices and strengthening accountability, As You Sow is helping safeguard global health, ensuring that antibiotics remain effective for generations to come.