ABSTRACT

Antibiotics enjoyed wide subtherapeutic use in animal feeds for growth promotion, improvement of feed efficiency, and disease prophylaxis. Pesticides are chemicals used throughout the agricultural world to destroy or control weeds, fungi, insects, and other pests. Some tend to remain in food as residues; some are not properly applied according to established guidelines/instructions and the resulting residues due to misuse can pose potential health risks to consumers. The public health implications will be limited to synoptic concepts and a highlight of the major aspects of antibiotic and hormonal use, plus the current concerns pesticide use and contamination. The current mechanisms to determine whether human health is affected by the subtherapeutic or therapeutic antibiotic use in animals is stymied by the diverse opinions associated with defining exactly what constitutes a hazard to human health.