We need to preserve antibiotics for our health today, and tomorrow.
OUR MISSION
The Keep Antibiotics Working (KAW) Coalition fights against the spread of antibiotic-resistant "superbugs." Formed in 2001, KAW is a coalition of advocacy groups that joined to ensure that untreatable superbugs resulting from the overuse of antibiotics on farms do not reverse the medical advances of the past century.
We are asking the FDA to keep antibiotics working
In the U.S., there are over 3 million illnesses caused by resistant infections each year. This public health threat is driven in large part by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture. In order to address the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, the FDA must set national targets for reducing antibiotic use in food-producing animals and collect data on antibiotic use.
To stop the spread of antibiotic resistant superbugs, KAW supports the following four actions:
1. KAW demands a ban on using antibiotics on the farm for purposes other than treating sick or injured animals or for controlling diagnosed outbreaks of disease.
2. KAW expects farms to prevent disease by providing appropriate diets, delaying weaning, improving hygiene, reducing crowding, and using vaccines appropriately-so that antibiotic use on farm is rare not routine.
3. KAW supports the creation of a federal program to systematically collect species specific data on why farms use antibiotics and in what amounts.
4. KAW supports collecting data on the spread of resistant superbugs in the food system through the federal National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System, a joint program of the FDA, USDA, and CDC that looks for superbugs in animals, food, and sick people.
Coalition members
Find out about our organization, mission, our methods, and the results of our decades of advocacy.
Our accomplishments
KAW has had a major impact on the safety of the food you eat today.