Antibiotics are drugs that fight infections caused by bacteria. Due to on-farm disease prevention and effective use of vaccines, only a small percentage of egg-laying hens receive antibiotics. If they do, it is under supervision of a veterinarian and only for a short time to treat a specific disease or prevent a recurring disease. A limited number of FDA*-approved antibiotics are available for egg farms, provided they comply with FDA guidelines for usage. These FDA regulations also are designed to assure antibiotic residues are not passed to eggs.

(*FDA=Food and Drug Administration)

See also antibiotic-free eggs.