Donald Kennedy, former FDA commissioner and president emeritus at Stanford University, is one of 150 scientists that have asked the FDA and Congress to look at the human health issues connected with the overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture, and for both agencies to work together to resolve the critical situation.

The livestock growth stimulating drug ractopamine, commonly marketed as Paylean and Optaflexx, has dampened U.S. trade relations with Taiwan on U.S. beef and pork exports because of the drug's presence, which was detected last year.