Having not eaten a Happy Meal in almost 10 years, McDonald's recent decision to eliminate human antibiotics from their meat will have me waiting in line again for some of the company's yummy chicken nuggets ("McDonald's chicken gets new standard: No human antibiotics," March 5).
What we eat is what we are. With the constant rise of drug-resistant germs that render antibiotics no longer effective in treating human illnesses, we have to pivot toward options that offer quality as well as meet public health guidelines. Even though McDonald's may not have a huge impact on one's wallet, it definitely does on our health and on the poultry market.
McDonald's decision will lead to improvements in our health, especially in relation to issues of obesity and antibiotic resistance. But it isn't enough; there is definitely more to be done in order to guarantee the production of safer meats.
For that we need to pass Senate Bill 463, sponsored by Sen. Paul G. Pinsky, which prohibits the non-therapeutic use of medically important antibiotics in cattle, swine and poultry. That will significantly increase the quality of meat and other food items we feed our family.
The bill is a necessary step toward further protecting public health in Maryland and stopping the overuse of antibiotics on factory farms. I urge Maryland's senators to follow McDonald's lead and ensure that all of our meat will be a happy meal.
Sindhu Bastakoti