Tyson Foods will phase out antibiotic use in its chicken flocks over the next two years, the latest poultry supplier to address an issue linked to antibiotic resistance.
The company said Tuesday it plans to end use of human antibiotics in its U.S. chicken flocks by the end of September 2017. The company already stopped using antibiotics at its chicken hatcheries and requires a veterinary prescription for use on farms.
Antibiotic use in animals, used to make the animals grow bigger and more resistant to disease, is linked to building up resistance in humans and making it harder to fight infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Continued antibiotic use in animals can leave behind resistant microbes that can be passed on to humans when meat from the animals is consumed.
Poultry producer Perdue also has taken steps to curb antibiotic use.
The Food and Drug Administration has put out voluntary guidance to help industry curb antibiotic use.
