Controversy on Antibiotics Use on Organic Apples and Pears

The National Organics Standards Board recently met in Portland, Oregon and announced Thursday that it would not allow the use of oxytetracycline, an approved antibiotic spray for apples and pears blossoms to be used beyond October 21, 2014.

The antibiotic was allowed to be used on pears and apples that are labeled organic because it was effective in fighting fire blight, which is a deadly and contagious disease that can cause damage to whole orchards. The bacterial disease primarily affects plants of the rose family. The antibiotic is not sprayed on the grown apples and pears. It is sprayed once these two fruit trees start to flower. It is not used on other organic products as well as livestock in consonance with the regulation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is in charge of policing organic farming.

Rejection of petition

Organic fruit growers petitioned for the continued use of oxytetracycline, which was an approved antibiotic for pear and apple trees past its deadline. Its use for these two fruit trees was approved in 2002, with the provision that growers would continue to find efficient methods that are not antibiotic based. While many welcomed the decision, others are not so sure this is the right time to put a stop to its use, since alternatives to the antibiotic spray is still at the testing stage. One of the main concerns is that its continued use might lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which will add more problems to fruit growers.

Differing views

Reception to the rejection of the appeal is varied. Consumer advocates welcome it. For them it is not right that antibiotics had been used on fruits that are labeled organic. They are citing the transparency in labeling organic products.

Some fruit growers say that there really is no real effective fighting agent for fire blight. Some fruit growers on the other hand are quick to respond that its use is limited as they only use it to treat the trees once they are in bloom and only during seasons when the bacterial disease hits them. It is a big problem for orchard growers because the disease not only destroys the fruits, it can kill the trees and a whole orchard can be quickly affected.

Other organic farmers said that even if they do not actually want to use antibiotics, there are very few alternatives. And once an orchard is hit, it is a major loss. New apple trees take six years to be productive and it takes 12 years for pear trees.

Plant pathologist Virginia Stockwell of Oregon State University said the antibiotic use in plant agriculture is only about one-tenth of one percent. On her study of fire blight management, she said that in 2011, 30 million pounds of antibiotics were used on livestock as compared to the 36,000 pounds of antibiotics sprayed on apple and pear trees. She added that the residue left on the fruits themselves is very small, according to her research.

Alternatives to antibiotics

One of Oregon State University’s plant pathologists, Ken Johnson, has stated that trials regarding alternatives to antibiotics – such as a the one based on yeast (Blossom Perfect) and a copper spray known to be less-damaging to plants (Previsto) have been going well so far. However, according to Johnson, 2014 is still far too soon for an antibiotic such as oxytetracycline to be taken off the market and off the hands of orchard growers.

Blossom Perfect had been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and could be used by fruit farmers this year. Previsto is yet to be registered.

Possible use of oxytetracycline in the future

Despite the rejected extension, there is still hope for growers worried for their orchards falling to problems such as fire blight. A motion was approved by the board which allows the USDA to have a look at all the options regarding the use of oxytetracycline as an emergency alternative until the year 2017.