Question

Regarding the use of antibiotics in food animals, withdrawal time is the period of time:

A. allowed between when a drug is first given to a food animal and when the last dose may be given.
B. required between when one dose of a medication can be given to a food animal and when a second, different medication can be given.
C. between when the last dose was administered to a food animal and when it is allowed to rejoin the rest of the herd or flock.
D. between when the last dose was administered and when the animal can be slaughtered for food or its products.

Answer 1

Withdrawal time refers to the mandatory period after the last antibiotic dose is given to food animals and before they can be slaughtered for consumption, ensuring antibiotics are sufficiently cleared from their system to mitigate the risk of antibiotic resistance in humans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Regarding the use of antibiotics in food animals, withdrawal time is defined as the period of time between when the last dose of an antibiotic was administered to a food animal and when the animal can be legally slaughtered for food, or its products can be safely consumed. This period allows for the antibiotics to exit the animal's system so that residue levels in meat or other products fall below the maximum residue limit set by regulatory bodies. The concept of withdrawal time helps to prevent the spread of antibiotic residues in the food supply, which could contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in human pathogens. Additionally, the judicious use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals and the guidance provided by the FDA aim to decrease antimicrobial resistance by limiting unnecessary exposure to antibiotics.