Joining the Raised-without-Antibiotics Production Movement Joseph Krebs, Ph.D. V.P. Product Development & Quality Assurance
Bioo Scientific Based in Austin, TX Founded in 2003 We are a Biotech/ Food Safety Company.: Antibiotic Residues Hormone Tests Dairy Testing Sell our products in over 100 countries
Raised without Antibiotics: A new trend in the production of animals for meat. Always seem to be changes going on in food production. The RWA trend is being pushed along by two major drivers: 1) US FDA VFD Final Rule 2) Consumer preferences
Normal uses of antibiotics in poultry and livestock Treating disease Preventing disease Growth promotion
VFD final rule Coming up soon : December 2016. Veterinary Feed Directive Some provisions are Voluntary Some provisions are Mandatory
Normal uses of antibiotics in poultry and livestock Treating disease Preventing disease Growth promotion
FDA VFD Final Rule Animals can be treated with antibiotics if they are under a Veterinarian s care. Three-way relationship emphasized: Veterinarian / Client / Patient (VCPR) Why give antibiotics to healthy animals?
Veterinary Feed Directive In 2012, the FDA finalized a guidance document entitled The Judicious Use of Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals (GFI #209). Response to concerns that widespread use of veterinary antibiotics will cause mutation and evolution and creation of antibiotic-resistant super-bugs that can endanger humans. Goal is better oversight of antibiotic use.
Any upside for Food Producers? Marketing data suggests that consumers will pay more for RWA meat. Balance between increased production costs and increased meat product prices.
Growing Consumer Demand for Organic/ RWA meat. RWA appeal is part of the larger movement towards alternate, more advantageous food production methods. Arguably an offshoot of the ORGANIC food movement Demand for RWA meat has grown by 25% over the last 3 years (total US meat consumption has fallen)
Growing Consumer Demand for RWA meat. More than 70% of consumers are concerned about meat products containing antibiotics. Many want meat produced without antibiotics. Perceived advantages of RWA meat production by consumers regarding: 1) Human health 2) Animal welfare 3) Environmental stewardship
Industry Response to Growing Consumer Demand for Organic/ RWA meat. Recently many restaurant chains have pledged to serve RWA products and are advertising their shift towards RWA meat.
Growing Consumer Demand for Organic/ RWA meat. In 2015, Walmart, the world s largest grocery retailer, announced that the chain would move toward buying meat only from livestock suppliers who discourage the use of antibiotics and that agree to report publically on their antibiotic management practices.
Growing Consumer Demand for Organic/ RWA meat. In 2015, Walmart, the world s largest grocery retailer, announced that the chain would move toward buying meat only from livestock suppliers who discourage the use of antibiotics and that agree to report publically on their antibiotic management practices. Historically, these kinds of events are gamechangers for food producers.
Many meat producers are creating RWA facilities This is a major shift from current production methods. Some advice from Bioo Scientific
How to convert to an RWA livestock and poultry facility Should you just use your existing facility as is, stop buying medicated feed, and test each meat sample for antibiotics. No! How to do it then? Some advice from Bioo Scientific
Converting your operation to an RWA facility requires significant changes, Probably best to use and QC test verification of antibiotic free feed Use healthier disease resistant strains of poultry and livestock. Allow greater space between animals (>2 sq. ft. for organic chickens).segregate sick animals, QC test final meat to verify antibiotic free (not practical!)
Consider the entire supply process and infrastructure (facilities) FACILITIES CHANGES Segregation of sick animals Decreased animal crowding Segregation of medicated and unmedicated feed QUALITY CONTROL CHANGES Antibiotic testing of feed and water stocks Antibiotic testing of flocks and herds Antibiotic testing of final meat products
Establish Critical Quality Control Checkpoints Throughout the Entire Production Process
Establish Critical Quality Control Checkpoints Throughout the Entire Production Process Raw materials - Feed & water supply Building Design Validation of successful methods by testing final meat products.
Establish Critical Quality Control Checkpoints Throughout the Entire Production Process Building Design Segregation of materials (medicated vs non-medicated feed, H2O, etc Decrease crowding Quarantine sick animals
Establish Critical Quality Control Checkpoints Throughout the Entire Production Process Periodic systematic materials and product testing to assure production process integrity and verify integrity of meat products (facilitate labeling requirement?) Sample and perform Rapid tests on-site
Establish Critical Quality Control Checkpoints Throughout the Entire Production Process
Inexpensive Bioo Scientific kits to verify RWA supply chain on-site Feed and water antibiotic Strip test kits Total antibiotic test method for Feed (Microbiological) Blood and body fluid antibiotic Strip test kits RWA status confirmation using Total antibiotic test method for meat (Microbiological)
Thank you! Any Questions? Joe Krebs Bioo Scientific jkrebs@biooscientific.com
Acknowledgements Thank you TAFP!! Thank you to my colleagues who assisted with this work Dawn Obermoeller Delle Herrara Mark MacBeath THANK YOU! (once again)