Recent findings from a number of countries document that the production benefits from the use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) are minimal or absent in modern food animal production. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health problem. As the development of new antimicrobials has slowed down, we must preserve the power of the antimicrobials currently available. This requires that they be used prudently. The current medical treatment problems that are potentially attributable to animal use of antimicrobials are infections caused by resistant strains of enterocci, streptococci, Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, etc. It is not possible to determine the exact current and potential future magnitude of the public health impact of animal use of antimicrobials compared to medical use. However, considering the very minor benefits of AGP use, the risks from their use clearly outweigh the benefits.