Mind & body, Research

Antiobiotics in food: Experts to take on the issues live online

By Public Affairs

As bacteria rapidly outmaneuver humans’ ability to control them, we are increasingly vulnerable to outbreaks of drug-resistant pathogens. The use of antibiotics in livestock production is driving the growth of this resistance and also appears to be contributing to our obesity epidemic — all of which promise higher health care and human costs unless the situation is addressed.

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Taking on this issue, in all its dimensions, will be a panel of experts gathered by the joint master’s program of the School of Public Health and the Graduate School of Journalism. The panel, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday (April 21) at Banatao Auditorium in Sutardja Dai Hall, will be webcast live here.

Dr. Lee Riley, UC Berkeley professor of infectious diseases, and Michael Pollan, professor of journalism, will bring their expertise to the panel. They will be joined by Maryn McKenna, a science journalist and author of an upcoming book on the history of antibiotics use in livestock production, and Dr. Piero Garzaro, regional infectious diseases chair for The Permanente Medical Group Northern California.

Dr. John Swartzberg, UC Berkeley professor of infectious diseases and editorial director of The Berkeley Wellness Letter and BerkeleyWellness.com, will moderate.

Riley, in a recent Q&A on BerkeleyWellness.com, explores the connections between antibiotics in food and obesity.

Organizers would like RSVPs by Saturday (April 18).