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NY judge: FDA failed to act on animal antibiotics

By Associated Press

Story Created: Jun 5, 2012 at 3:18 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 5, 2012 at 3:19 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) - A federal judge says the Food and Drug
Administration has done "shockingly little" to address the risks associated with the widespread use of antibiotics in food-producing animals over the last three decades.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Theodore Katz in New York made the comment while ruling in favor of several health and consumer organizations that sued last year.

Katz said the agency must evaluate the safety risks of the drugs. He says the FDA must make a finding that the drugs are not safe - or explain why it is refusing to do so.

The government already is appealing a similar ruling in the case by Katz in March. An FDA spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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