CHICAGO (Reuters) - Tyson Foods Inc, the largest U.S. poultry producer, plans to eliminate the use of human antibiotics in its chicken flocks by September 2017 - one of the most aggressive timelines yet set by an American poultry company.
The Arkansas-based chicken and meat giant also said it is working on ways to curtail such on-farm drug practices at its other protein businesses, which include pork and beef.
The move marks the latest push by the livestock and food industries to reduce the use of antibiotics crucial to human health in meat production.
Authorities are concerned that the routine feeding of antibiotics to animals could spur the creation of antibiotic resistant superbugs in humans, creating a health hazard.
Tyson's move, announced on Tuesday morning, aims to help the company meet a deadline recently outlined by McDonald's Corp. to have its U.S. restaurants gradually stop buying chicken raised with human antibiotics over the next two years.
But the company, a key chicken supplier to McDonald's, said in a statement to Reuters that its plans are part of an ongoing effort and "go beyond one customer."
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4 comments:
They are about a year behind Perdue Farms....there are many more that need to follow!
Perdue ????
Such a crock of crap. This sounds great, except antibiotics come in liquid from and can be added to the water supply. They say they are putting an end to antibiotics in chicken FEED, and not chickens.
People need to learn how to read into these kind of things that are written by lawyers and PR people.
When you rely on others to produce your food, you are getting screwed. The clever marketing ones (Organic, Non GMO, Free Range, etc) are the worst offenders.
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