The Senate is set to renew a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) program that funds the review of new animal drug applications. FACT, along with the Keep Antibiotics Working (KAW) coalition, is calling on the Senate to attach to this bill landmark Senate legislation that could finally stem antibiotic overuse on factory farms called "confined animal feeding operations" (CAFOs), and preserve these precious drugs for future generations.

Antibiotics are widely used without prescription in the feed and water of animals that are not sick, leading to a crisis of antibiotic resistant human and animal diseases. Today, the FDA virtually is ignoring this problem.

It is urgent that you write to your Senators today. Tell them to pass a bill that includes provisions to protect human health and keep antibiotics working! Make your voice heard. Click here to take action now on this pressing issue.

Summertime for many Americans is a time to cook on the backyard barbeque with family and friends. For those who eat meat, remember that the food choices you make in the grocery store can have a significant impact on the welfare of farm animals across the country. Your purchases let retailers and producers know that consumers are interested in humanely- raised food products. Here are some tips to help you make humane food choices this summer and throughout the year:

Beef

On factory farms, beef cattle are routinely raised with hormones and antibiotics to speed growth and accelerate weight gain during finishing on the feedlot (when animals are readied for market). Dairy cattle are often treated with hormones to increase milk output and then dosed with antibiotics to treat the increased incidence of mastitis (udder infections) that occurs. When antibiotic treatments fail, these dairy cattle end up at the slaughterhouse for use in hamburger and processed meats.

Products with labels that read "raised without hormones and antibiotics" are better choices, although humane treatment is not guaranteed. We recommend you purchase beef that is labeled grass fed, pasture-raised or grass-finished as this implies that the animals were on pasture for their entire lives. Although most beef cattle are raised on pasture, typical factory-farmed beef is finished for the last few months on a feedlot diet of corn. Cattle should be raised and finished on pasture. Some farmers will supplement with grain, but the less grain, the better, as grass is a more natural diet for cattle and will not upset their rumen (stomach).

Poultry

Look for free-range poultry. These birds are allowed some access to the outdoors, although the amount and type of access can vary greatly. Ideally, try to purchase birds that were raised on pasture, as exercise and fresh air provide many health benefits to the birds in terms of reduced lameness and respiratory infections. Although most pastured poultry are fed grain, they should be raised on grass, and free to peck and walk around. FACT suggests visiting your local farmers' market and buying directly from the farmer.

Since the average life of a broiler (or chicken raised for meat) is fairly short, they are not beak-trimmed. Furthermore, birds raised for meat are never caged as cages can cause severe bruising. If poultry meat is labeled as cage-free, you can be sure it is simply a marketing gimmick to mislead the consumer. Note that hormones are not permitted in poultry production by law. Therefore, a "no added hormones" claim on chicken and turkey is misleading.

Pork

Most pigs are raised in small pens on slatted metal or concrete floors. Breeding sows are raised in gestation crates. These crates are actually small, individual stalls on slatted floors which severely restrict freedom of movement, including turning sideways or lying down comfortably. FACT considers these conditions very inhumane because there is inadequate opportunity for exercise; conditions are unsanitary, with pigs often caked in their own feces; and the air is heavily fouled with the fumes from manure pits which lie beneath the slatted floors.

Look for pork that is labeled as free range, pasture- raised or "raised in deep-bedded housing." These systems allow for freedom of movement and the expression of natural behaviors, which is especially important in reducing overall stress. Humanely produced pork is often also labeled as "raised without hormones and antibiotics." However the use of hormones in pork production is also prohibited by law.

Your food choices can make a difference. For a list of farmers and other humane choices in your area, please contact FACT. You can also visit www.eatwild.com or www.eatwellguide. org to search for local options. FACT is committed to making farms healthy and humane places for animals to live - and we hope you will join us today!

FACT would be honored to display artwork designed by one of our supporters on our holiday card, as a demonstration of our shared commitment to making farms humane and healthy places for animals. Please read below for more information. We look forward to receiving your entry!

Guidelines

On June 14th and 15th, FACT connected with the local Chicago community by staffing a booth at the popular Andersonville Midsommarfest. This was the first time FACT participated in this annual summer festival and staff members had a wonderful time educating consumers on how we can all help make farms humane and healthy places to raise food animals.

FACT staff passed out information on local humane food choices as well as the many issues we address. One lucky resident won a $25 gift certificate to a local restaurant, Uncommon Ground, which features seasonal, regional and organic food. By the end of the weekend, FACT met with hundreds of people and raised awareness about the struggles faced by farm animals.