Major food companies are cutting back on antibiotics. Below are updated statements on antibiotic use by major restaurant chains and poultry producers. Also read the article "Poultry Industry Quietly Cuts Back on Antibiotic Use" from the New York Times.

  

Statements on Antibiotic Use by Major Restaurant Chains
Compiled by Keep Antibiotics Working as of May 2004..

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), an international coalition of hospitals, other health-care facilities and organizations working to reduce environmental health impacts of the health care system, recently adopted a policy statement that encourages their members and other insitutions to purchase meat, fish, and dairy products produced without the routine non-therapeutic use of antibiotics. HCWH also created a set of sample purchasing guidelines to help their members and others in implementing these practices.

Bon Appétit
Bon Appétit food service company's Policy on Antibiotics Use in Food Animals, December 2003.

McDonald's
McDonald's global policy on antibiotic use in food animals, June 2003.

Chipotle Mexican Grill
"Chipotle Mexican Grill has begun using premium-quality, all-natural Bell & Evans chicken at all of its Washington, D.C. restaurants – a first for a quick-service company...Bell & Evans raises chickens without growth-stimulating or disease-masking antibiotics or the harsh, unsavory conditions of factory farms. “
     Chipotle news release, Feb. 17, 2003

“Chipotle, based in Denver, recently introduced gourmet pork in its 155 restaurants across the country in a bid to improve ingredient quality-and taste…. Free-range pigs ‘are not fed antibiotics…’ said [Chipotle founder Steve] Ells.”
     “Chipotle Tries Pork from Pigs Who Lived High on the Hog,” Rocky Mountain News, Aug. 15, 2001

Dairy Queen
“Please know all approved suppliers of DQ/B chicken products are required to:
          1. Guarantee they produce our chicken products without the nontherapeutic use of all classes of medically important antibiotics.
          2. Guarantee they produce our chicken products without the use of fluoroquinolones.”
     Letter to Keep Antibiotics Working, August 20, 2002

Domino’s
“Pizza Broiler Chicken Purchasing Policy Statement
As part of its ongoing commitment to provide its customers with only top-quality products, Domino’s Pizza LLC works diligently with its suppliers to ensure they meet or exceed the company’s rigorous standards as they relate to food quality and safety.
Consistent with that practice, Domino’s Pizza LLC will only purchase broiler chicken products (the only type Domino’s purchases) from suppliers who guarantee they produce broilers without the nontherapeutic use of all classes of medically important antibiotics.
Further, Domino’s Pizza LLC will only purchase broiler chicken from suppliers who guarantee they produce chicken without the use of fluoroquinolones.”
     Letter to Keep Antibiotics Working, July 23, 2002

Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr., La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grills and Green Burrito Restaurants
“The suppliers to CKE Restaurants, Inc., the parent company of Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr., La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grills and Green Burrito Restaurants, do not use any antibiotics for growth promotion or prophylactic purposes. All of our poultry suppliers have totally eliminated the use of fluoroquinolones. Our policy is to only purchase from suppliers who guarantee they produce chicken without the nontherapeutic use of medically important antibiotics. Additionally, we purchase poultry only from companies who guarantee they produce without the use of fluoroquinolones….CKE Restaurants, Inc. has always been a leader in food safety and we are committed to protecting the public’s health.”
     Letter to Keep Antibiotics Working, July 19, 2002

KFC
“KFC does not purchase poultry treated nontherapeutically with medically important antibiotics.”
     Letter to Keep Antibiotics Working, August 28, 2002

McDonald’s
“‘We’ve listened to the concerns, studied the issue, and the bottom line was we thought it was the right thing to do to discontinue the use of [fluoroquinolone antibiotics] in poultry,’ said Walt Riker, spokesman for Oak Brook-based McDonald's.”
     Walt Riker, McDonald’s, “Chickens Fed With Antibiotics McGone”, Chicago Sun-Times, Feb. 12, 2002

Popeyes
“McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Popeyes are now refusing to buy chicken that has been treated with [fluoroquinolones].”
     “Poultry Industry Quietly Cuts Back on Antibiotic Use,” New York Times, Feb. 10, 2002

Subway
“We feel this is an important issue and will not knowingly buy chicken that has been treated with fluoroquinolones…Subway Restaurants has received statements from its chicken vendors who verify that they are not using fluoroquinolones antibiotics, nor are they using medically important antibiotics in healthy animals. Thank you for contacting us and letting us communicate our position. Good luck in your work to reduce antibiotic use!”
     Letter to Keep Antibiotics Working, April 24, 2002

T.G.I. Friday’s
“T.G.I. Friday’s timely introduction of an all-natural Angus burger resonates with today’s burger connoisseur and consumers who want the assurance of source-verified, all-natural hamburger…. The cattle are never administered hormones, antibiotics or animal byproducts.”
     T.G.I. Friday’s news release, Jul. 16, 2001

Wendy's
“McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Popeyes are now refusing to buy chicken that has been treated with [fluoroquinolones].”
     “Poultry Industry Quietly Cuts Back on Antibiotic Use,” New York Times, Feb. 10, 2002

  

Statements on Antibiotic Use by Major Poultry Producers
Compiled by Keep Antibiotics Working as of December 3, 2002
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Tyson Foods
Springdale, AR
Industry Ranking: #1

“Tyson Foods, a leader among the poultry industry in reducing antibiotic use in its chickens, has chosen to discontinue its previously minimal use of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics in the production of its broiler chickens.... According to Dr. Patrick Pilkington, Tyson Vice President of Live Production Services, ‘This move is part of Tyson’s ongoing effort, which began over five years ago, to decrease antibiotic use in its flocks.... Continued improvements in animal husbandry and increased bio-security measures have enabled us to reduce the use of antibiotics in recent years.’”
     Tyson news release, Feb. 19, 2002

“Tyson says it has cut back on antibiotics that are similar to those used on humans, and now uses only two when a flock is at risk of disease.”
     “Poultry Industry Quietly Cuts Back on Antibiotic Use,” New York Times, Feb. 10, 2002

Gold Kist Inc
Atlanta, GA
Industry ranking: #2

“Gold Kist Inc., the nation’s second largest chicken processor, affirmed today that it will continue its policy of not using antibiotics of human health significance at non-therapeutic levels for its broiler chickens.”
     Gold Kist news release, May 17, 2002

“Gold Kist Inc.,.... today announced that it had discontinued its rare use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the production of broiler chickens. President and Chief Executive Officer John Bekkers said '....we are taking this action to assure our customers and consumers that Gold Kist Farms brand chicken is free of fluoroquinolones.’”
     Gold Kist news release, Feb. 21, 2002

ConAgra Poultry
Duluth, GA
Industry ranking: #4

“ConAgra Poultry Company does not use any antibiotics for growth promotion or prophylactic purposes at any location. Some antibiotics may be used when absolutely necessary to treat systemic conditions in chickens, and never used on healthy flocks. ConAgra Poultry Company follows the FDA’s guidelines on feed and water withdrawal. ConAgra Poultry does not use fluoroquinolones. Excellent breeding and rearing practices have made the need for antibiotic usage minimal.”
     Company policy statement, Mar. 7, 2002

Perdue Farms
Salisbury, MD
Industry ranking: #5

“Currently we are not using medically important antibiotics nontherapeutically that would be used in human medicine like penicillin, tetracycline and sulfonamides.... The primary reason is that we want to make absolutely sure if there is any question that we are in no way, shape or form contributing to antibiotic resistance in humans. We want to make sure there is no overuse.”
     Hank Engster, Vice President, Technical Services, Perdue Farms
     “Poultry Industry Quietly Cuts Back on Antibiotic Use,” New York Times, Feb. 10, 2002