Domestic sales and distribution of all medically important antimicrobials intended for use in food-producing animals decreased by 33% between 2016-2017.

• A. Decreased by 33%
• B. Increased by 33%
• C. Stayed the same
• D. Decreased by 10%

Answer: (A)

Tracking how much medically important antimicrobials are sold or distributed for use in food-producing animals shows how antimicrobial use changes over time. A 33% drop from 2016 to 2017 indicates a substantial reduction, reflecting stewardship efforts and regulatory actions that limited uses such as growth promotion and required veterinary oversight for therapeutic uses. This downward trend is why the statement is true: domestic sales and distribution decreased by about one-third in that period. The other options imply the opposite or a smaller change and do not match the observed data.