Antibiotic use in US meat production jumped 16% in 2024, report shows

Increases in antibiotic use in cattle and pigs are more concerning as they account for nearly 85% of all antibiotics used in US meat production. Photograph: Richard Levine/Alamy

Antibiotic use in US meat production increased 16% in 2024, representing the highest increase since the government began tracking data, a new federal report shows. The data covers “medically important” antibiotics that are also used in humans, including widely used drugs such as the Z-Pak.

The shift is raising fears of an increase in antibiotic-resistant “superbugs”, or pathogens that are difficult to treat because they evolve to become immune to drug treatments. These already sicken millions of people annually, and many of the drugs carry other potential health risks, as well, including cancer.