The world's largest fast food chains are being urged to stop serving meat from animals given antibiotics also used in human medicine.
The organisers of World Consumer Rights Day, celebrated annually on March 15, have used the 2016 event to call on McDonald's, Subway and KFC to use their buying power to push the agricultural industry to rein in the use of antibiotics.
Change is slowly taking place, with American chain In-N-Out Burger the most recent to commit to shifting away from meat raised with antibiotics.
University of Queensland PhD candidate Hosam Zowawi told AAP increasing demand for mass meat production has meant animals are crammed into pens where there is a danger of sickness. So they are given antibiotics to prevent illness and contamination.
However, human consumption of livestock is creating antibiotic resistant bacteria, meaning, when sickness strikes traditional antibiotic medication is ineffective.
"We have to have an eagle eye to try and tackle the issue from different angles in order to eliminate or reduce it at least," Mr Zowawi said.
He said antibiotics are not just in meat but are also used in citrus production.
Furthermore, a study he was part of found antibiotic resistant bacteria in lettuce and tomatoes.
"Our hypothesis is those things got contaminated through water used to irrigate the plants," he said.
Last year the World Health Organisation identified the problem as a global health crisis that could, if not prevented, put an end to modern medicine.
Government agency Food Standards Australia and New Zealand told AAP the country's primary producers are using antibiotics to keep their animals healthy and that low amounts "may be present in some of the foods we eat".
In a statement, it said regular tests show antibiotic residues rarely exceed the limits set in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
