In The Rising Podcast- A Health and Wellness Podcast · Bettina M. Brown, Physical Therapist

Exploring Food Safety with Madeline Clevin: A Cancer Survivor's Journey and the Implication of Antibiotics

July 25, 2023·21 min·1 clip

Two-thirds of antibiotics go to animals, often to compensate for poor farming conditions, risking antibiotic resistance.

This episode of In The Rising Podcast focuses on food safety, antibiotic resistance in agriculture, and consumer empowerment. Host Bettina Brown, a board-certified physical therapist and cancer survivor, interviews Madeline Clevin, a cancer survivor and representative from the Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT). Clevin's personal history with cancer and her scientific background in infectious organisms inform her perspective on these issues. Bettina opens by sharing a personal story about discovering a weeks-old frozen pizza under her son's bed that showed no signs of mold. Clevin explains her passion for the topic stems from her cancer diagnosis, which made her acutely aware of what enters the body, including medicines and food. She states that two-thirds of antibiotics important to human medicine are used in animal agriculture, often preventatively due to poor farming conditions rather than to treat clinical disease. The conversation highlights that immunocompromised individuals, like cancer patients, are particularly vulnerable to antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can enter the food supply. Clevin identifies industrial farming as the primary sector for excessive antibiotic overuse, contrasting with more regulated human medicine. A key insight is that consumers can influence this system by purchasing meat from local producers who raise animals humanely or by choosing products labeled as raised without the routine use of antibiotics. Clevin argues that animals raised on pasture produce nutritionally superior meat, milk, and eggs with better fat quality and more vitamins. She also suggests political action, such as writing to the FDA or congressional representatives, to push for policy changes. The discussion notes that the European Union has banned preventive antibiotic use in agriculture, setting a precedent the U.S. could follow. Clevin describes FACT's dual mission: a Humane Farming Program that supports farmers and a Safe and Healthy Food Program that advocates for governmental action. A surprising claim is that antibiotics in farming are sometimes used to prevent liver abscesses in animals weaned too early or fed improper diets. The episode frames antibiotics as "precious" and critical for vulnerable populations, countering a blanket negative view of their use. A memorable moment is Bettina's reflection on the empowerment of consumer spending, stating change can happen "even without one letter" through where people choose to spend their money. Clevin acknowledges the FDA is notoriously slow to act, a delay FACT consistently challenges in quarterly meetings. The tone is conversational, educational, and supportive, blending personal anecdotes with factual information. The style is interview-based, with the host actively relating the guest's expertise to listener empowerment and practical action. This episode would appeal to health-conscious consumers, cancer patients and survivors, and individuals interested in food policy and sustainable agriculture. Listeners seeking purely clinical medical advice or those uninterested in food system politics might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A personal look at food choices, antibiotic resistance, and the small decisions consumers can still control.

Food safety and antibiotic use sit inside a wider cancer-and-wellness conversation here, which keeps the focus grounded rather than academic. The discussion moves between food choices, cancer recovery, and the everyday moments when those concerns show up at the table.

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Why you'd press play

For when dinner choices start feeling bigger than dinner.

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