date:May 14, 2012
Lactobacilli, bacteria that compete with the yeast and lowers the ethanol yield. Contamination is common so tanks are often inoculated as a preventative measure.
So, what does this process have to do with food safety and antimicrobial resistance? Well, the leftover distillers grains can contain antibiotic residues and they are routinely fed to food animals.
As IATP points out in their new paper, Bugs in the system, ethanol producers have no restrictions on antibiotic use: Ethanol producers