A U.S. appeals court allowed the use of antibiotics on factory farms despite the Food & Drug Administration's (FDA's) findings that the misuse of antibiotics essentially threatens the heath of both animals and humans.

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the continuation of the routine feeding of antibiotics to healthy animals with a 2-1 vote. The court also ruled that the FDA didn't need to consider banning the use of use of antibiotics on factory farms.

The decision overturned two district court rulings issued in 2012 in cases brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Public Citizen, Union of Concerned Scientists, Food Animal Concerns Trust, and Center for Science in the Public Interest.

But, Avinash Kar, an attorney with Natural Resources Defense Council, argued that adding antibiotics to farm animals' feed should not be allowed.

Arguing on the issue, Kar said, "This decision allows dangerous practices known to threaten human health to continue. Adding antibiotics to farm animals' feed, day after day, is not what the doctor ordered and should not be allowed."

The earlier rulings had directed the FDA to ban the regular use of antibiotics like penicillin and tetracyclines in animal feed until drug manufacturers could confirm the safety of the controversial practice.

The practice of feeding farm animals with low doses of antibiotics is contributing to a rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is a mounting public health concern.