Limitations of Voluntary Plan for Phasing Out Non-Medical Antibiotic Use in Farm Animals in USA

By M Djuric, DVM The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued a guidance document on the use of antibiotics in farm animals. The document notes that excessive use leads to the spread of antibiotic-resistant diseases in both animals and humans. In the document, the FDA proposes that pharmaceutical companies voluntarily change some…
Read Further

Low-level iodine-deficiency produces lower IQ children in UK

IN my March 2013 blog “Eat less salt but make sure it contains iodine!”, I described the  problems of addressing iodine–deficiency diseases in Pakistan and  the worrying rise in iodine deficiency in the UK,  linked to a shift  in eating patterns away from dairy and oily fish, our traditional sources of iodine.   Whereas, other developed…
Read Further

Arab world holds first public health conference

CABI is attending the First Arab World Congress on Public Health this week. Opening in Dubai tomorrow, the conference will be a forum for leaders in public health to exchange knowledge and develop best practice in the region. Speakers from Europe, the USA and Australia, will also bring an international perspective to the public health…
Read Further

Low salt diets could allow iodine-deficiency diseases to re-emerge

Salt has been used for thousands of years to flavor & preserve food BUT reliance on fast food, biscuits and tinned goods, with their hidden salt content, has created for us a high salt diet and with it an alarming rise in cardiovascular disease. Reducing our salt intake, by working with food industry and educating…
Read Further

Is artisanal salt healthier than commercial salt?

 Guest blogger, Henry Ko, health services researcher with SingHealth, Singapore, provides a personal commentary on issues raised by Mark Bitterman's book  on salt: “Salted: A manifesto on the world’s most essential mineral, with recipes”.  As a healthcare researcher with both professional and recreational interests in food, nutrition, and cooking, I was drawn to a book…
Read Further

Chocolate Made in South Africa for homesick Brits?

This blog is about the weirdness of global trade… and the lengths (literally) we go for chocolate. The wrapper on my Marks & Spencer (M&S) valentine chocolates read: “Made with our exclusive British Milk chocolate recipe, Made in South Africa”. Incredibly, it seemed that a firm in South Africa (SA) was targeting local people with…
Read Further

British Vets Resist “Political Measures” to Restrict Veterinary Use of Antibiotics

By Miroslav Djuric, DVM The British Veterinary Association (BVA) marked the 5th European Antibiotic Awareness Day (18 November 2012) by releasing a statement in which it reaffirms its commitment to promoting responsible use of antibiotics, but also warns that political measures to reduce antimicrobial resistance in Europe and the UK are not based on sound…
Read Further

European Antibiotic Awareness Day Highlights Threat of Antibiotic Resistance

By Miroslav Djuric European Antibiotic Awareness Day is an annual initiative that aims to raise awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance to public health and animal health as well as the importance of prudent use of antibiotics. On the occasion of the 5th European Antibiotic Awareness Day, which was marked on 18 November 2012, the…
Read Further

Mystery disease in Ethiopia solved: linked to weed toxin

Imagine this… A mysterious disease terrorising your community, not infectious but spreading nonetheless, and killing your relatives and neighbours. All you want to do is pack your bags and flee. Worse, when your plight comes to the attention of the health authorities, they are stumped and its not going to be easy or quick to…
Read Further

Is there a role for law(yers) in public health?

ITS not often that speakers forgo the chance to present in favour of opening up debate, but this is exactly what happened here at the World Congress Public Health 2012 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,Tuesday April 24), in the session “Law: a public health tool”. Moderator, Michele Forzley, chose not to talk on access to medicines in…
Read Further