McDonald’s said Wednesday that it’s not too chicken to cut most antibiotics out of its poultry supply, a move that could send reverberations throughout the agriculture and food industries.
The fast food chain said that within two years it would no longer use poultry that has been treated with antibiotics used in human medicine, though it will still accept poultry treated with feed additives called ionophores, which are targeted toward chickens. The news makes McDonald’s the biggest fast-food chain to cut most antimicrobials out of its diet, joining the likes of Chipotle Mexican Grill and Panera Bread.
About 80 percent of antimicrobials sold in the U.S. go toward livestock production, and that share is increasing, according to Friends of the Earth. Aside from being present in the animals, environmental groups are concerned antibiotics can enter the soil and water and reduce humans’ effectiveness in fighting disease by building antimicrobial tolerance.
“If fewer chickens get sick, then fewer chickens need to be treated with antibiotics that are important in human medicine. We believe this is an essential balance,” said Marion Gross, senior vice president of McDonald’s North America supply chain.
Environmental and public health groups said the move would have a major effect given the firm’s massive reach in the agriculture and meat industries through its 14,000 U.S. stores.
“McDonald’s is really a trendsetter,” Kari Hamerschlag, senior program manager at Friends of the Earth, told the Washington Examiner in an interview.
Hamerschlag pointed to the chain’s 2012 decision to eliminate pork products that used “gestation crates” that house pregnant pigs. She said it took just a matter of months for pork suppliers across the nation to scrap the practice because they didn’t want to lose out on the company’s business.
The National Chicken Council said the antibiotics are used sparingly, and noted for the past two years poultry producers have worked with the Food and Drug Administration to phase out antibiotics used in human medicine. It also said an FDA guidance will by December 2016 require such antibiotics to be used only to treat sick birds under prescription and supervision of a veterinarian.
“Chicken producers have a vested interest in protecting the effectiveness of antibiotics, for the welfare of their animals; as such, we’ve proactively and voluntarily taken steps toward finding alternative ways to control disease while reducing antibiotic use,” said Ashley Peterson, National Chicken Council vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs.
Hamerschlag said the McDonald’s deal was reached after seven months of discussions. The agreement doesn’t affect the pork or beef supply chain, which is likely a next target given the pace in which the FDA has addressed the issue, she said.
“The meat industry spends tens of millions of dollars on public relations and lobbying trying to influence policymakers … but they don’t have as much sway with consumers and with companies out in the marketplace. I think that’s where we’re going to see continued progress, and then maybe the policy will catch up,” Hamerschlag said.
