Consumer concerns over the declining effectiveness of antibiotics for human sicknesses are a key reason for the public stances against antibiotics in livestock, the report says. But the report takes a broad brush to the issue, claiming that approximatley 80 percent of all antibiotics sold in the U.S. are used by meat producers "to make animals grow faster or to prevent disease in crowded and unsanitary conditions."

Consumer Reports conducted the survey in March and April of this year by sending 36 "secret shoppers" into 136 grocery stories in 23 states to find out which meat products carried claims of antibiotic-free or organic production, and to learn how different the pricing may be for those premium products compared to traditionally produced meat and poultry.

The poll found that 57 percent of the consumers said there was meat and poultry raised without antibiotics available at their local markets, and that 61 percent of participating consumers indicated they would pay "5 cents or more a pound extra," and 37 percent said they'd pay a "dollar a pound more extra for meat and poultry raised wihtout antibiotics."

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