Some that are known to be harmful, such as DDT, are banned in Australia but continue to be used in some other countries. According to recent reports, about three-quarters of all antibiotics consumed in Australia are administered to animals. They are added to stock feed because they promote the growth of livestock. Good farming practice demands that antibiotics are not fed to livestock for some weeks prior to slaughter. This allows for sufficient time to minimize the amount of antibiotics in the meat we eat.
Many foods contain chemicals that have been added during processing.
Australian food standards specifically state which additives may be used and the foods which may contain them. Some people may have an adverse reaction to additives. Some additives have been linked by scientists to hyperactivity in children, and some may provoke allergic reactions. The long-term effects of food additives on the body are often unknown and difficult to research. Increasingly, natural alternatives are being discovered that replace the artificial compounds.