Bergen Hospital Working To Eliminate Meat Treated With Antibiotics

A Bergen hospital is working to end the use of antibiotics out of the country’s meat due to concerns about infections caused by bacteria and the overuse of antibiotics on farm animals.

Hackensack University Medical Center is calling on farmers and manufacturers to provide sustainable meat and poultry for the healthcare industry.

Hackensack UMC is one of nine hospitals and medical groups nationwide seeking to offer more sustainable food products, including antibiotic-free meat, in a program called Health Care Without Harm.

The hospital has worked with The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center to purchase antibiotic-free meat. The hospital plans on exclusively purchasing antibiotic-free meat by the end of the year.

According to the hospital, antibiotic-resistant infections kill about 23,000 Americans annually and 80 of antibiotics sold are used to treat farm animals.

“It is imperative that the food industry provide antibiotic-free meat and poultry so that hospitals like HackensackUMC can provide environmentally friendly and socially responsible food choices for its team members and patients,” said Dr. Jeffrey Boscamp, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and vice president of the hospital.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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