A legal petition has been submitted by a coalition of public health and farm worker organizations urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prohibit the application of antibiotics on food crops in the United States. The petition highlights the potential for these practices to contribute to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, commonly referred to as superbugs, which pose significant risks to public health.

The agricultural sector reportedly utilizes approximately 8 million pounds of antibiotic and antifungal pesticides annually on food crops, many of which are restricted in other countries due to health concerns. The overuse of these antibiotics, which are critical for treating human infections, is linked to an increase in antibiotic-resistant infections, which affect around 2.8 million individuals and result in approximately 35,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC has indicated that the use of certain antibiotics approved for agricultural purposes by the EPA is associated with heightened risks of staph infections and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Documents obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity through a Freedom of Information Act request revealed that a 2017 CDC study expressed concerns regarding the environmental implications of expanding antibiotic use on crops.

The consumption of food containing antibiotic residues may disrupt the human gut microbiome and elevate the risk of chronic diseases. Additionally, these substances can contaminate drinking water supplies and adversely affect pollinator populations, with low-income and Latino farm workers often bearing the brunt of these health risks.

Antibiotics are employed in agriculture primarily to combat bacteria that threaten crop viability. Streptomycin, a commonly used antibiotic in both medical and agricultural contexts, has been reported to be applied in significant quantities, with estimates suggesting up to 125,000 pounds used in a single year.

The petition arrives at a time when the EPA is under pressure to increase the use of human antibiotics in response to agricultural challenges, such as the bacterial citrus greening disease affecting Florida's citrus orchards. While acknowledging the urgency of the situation faced by the citrus industry, advocates argue that the long-term consequences of applying medically important antibiotics to crops would be detrimental to public health.

The petition allows the EPA five years to respond, during which time the agency may choose to enact a ban or provide justification for inaction. Previous actions, such as the ban on chloropyrifos, have faced legal challenges, and the likelihood of the EPA taking action under the current or future administrations remains uncertain. If the EPA does not respond adequately, the petitioners may pursue legal action, a process that could extend over a decade.