The World Health Organization (WHO) has joined other groups in calling for the end of antibiotics as animal growth promoters. Approximately half of all antibiotics used by livestock producers worldwide are low-dose growth promoters. These drugs encourage drug-resistant bacteria. WHO made its recommendation after reviewing the results of a voluntary ban on antibiotic growth promoters in Denmark in 1998. When these antibiotics were omitted, the amount of resistant bacteria in pork and chicken declined from 60% to 80% to 5% to 35%. The cost of producing pigs without the antibiotics increased 1%, and the use of antibiotics to treat ill animals also increased; however, it remained well below what was used as growth promoters. Drug-resistant bacteria are making antibiotics less effective for human patients. Although many of the same farming techniques that are used in Denmark are used in the United States, the FDA's approach is different. It is examining each drug individually. Currently, the Animal Health Institute says that between 13% and 17% of antibiotics used in the United States are growth promoters. (Washington Post, August 12, 2003)