Nursery World - A Unique Child: Nutrition

Cutting back on meat, and checking its provenance, are important. Mary Llewellin explains why and how

At the end of last year, a story hit the news that made me feel very glad that at Snapdragons we have chosen, through our Soil Association Gold Catering Mark, to consider very carefully the provenance and production methods of our meat.

Researchers had identified a new form of resistance to colistin, the antibiotic of last resort. We are probably all aware that doctors have been directed to reduce the amount of antibiotic prescriptions that they issue; this latest resistance, though, was found in pigs – causing alarm bells to ring in the medical world.

Antibiotics are routinely used by farmers, not just to treat infections. Time magazine reports that, ‘According to a recent study by the Food and Drug Administration, some 80 per cent of the antibiotics sold in the US are used in farm animals, not in human beings, and 90 per cent of that amount is dispensed through feed or water.’

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included