The only chains to receive an “A” were Panera Bread and Chipotle Mexican Grill, both of which started to take steps to eliminate antibiotic-use in their meats years ago. (FDA regulations now ban the use of antibiotics for growth promotion, but critics say a loophole allows the standard practice to continue.) This isn’t treatment of a sick animal; it’s a strategy to keep an animal healthy in a scenario in which that animal has no right to demand health-and to get more meat to sell too.
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A recent research study has found that most fast food chain restaurants have a dismal record with regard to using meat that is low in antibiotics or is actually antibiotic free. These are companies that have made it company and public policy to only use meat and poultry with as little antibiotics as possible or are antibiotic free.
Plus, about 80 percent of all antibiotics used in the States are for livestock, so the chances of resistant bacteria transferring to humans is high.
In response to a number of public campaigns, Subway, in late August updated its website to indicate that it “support(s) the elimination of sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics”, and media outlets reported that Subway plans to “transition to chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine in 2016” and “eliminate the use of antibiotics in products across the menu”.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 2 million people are infected with drug resistant bacteria each year and 23,000 die.
Dunkin Donuts and McDonald’s both received “C” grades. McDonald’s announced in 2015 that within two years, it would serve chicken that are only fed antibiotics when they’re sick.
“If the corporation were serious about becoming a ‘modern, progressive burger company, ‘” said Madhusoodanan, referring to the mantra of McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook, “it would immediately implement a strong, accountable and transparent antibiotics policy across its supply chain”.
The “Chain Reaction” report and scorecard was assembled and released by the non-profit groups Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council, Consumers Union, Food Animal Concerns Trust, Keep Antibiotics Working, and Center for Food Safety.
The report urges consumers to ask about meat sources in restaurants and on social media. “The companies that are offering better-quality alternatives are doing well, including Chipotle and Panera. Companies are in business to satisfy their customers, and like never before, customers are asking for meat raised without antibiotics”.
That’s because Chipotle and Panera – along with others like, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s – have adopted policies that either limit or prohibit the use of antibiotics in their meats.
“From bacon cheeseburgers to chicken nuggets, most meat served by America’s chain restaurants comes from animals raised in industrial-scale facilities, where they are routinely fed antibiotics to prevent disease that is easily spread in crowded, unsanitary, stressful conditions”, said Kari Hamerschlag, senior program manager at Friends of the Earth. “Farmers work closely with veterinarians to responsibly administer antibiotics in the care for their animals, benefiting each of us by making food safer and more affordable”. Those brands are Applebee’s, Arby’s, Burger King, Chili’s, Dairy Queen, Denny’s, Domino’s, Jack in the Box, KFC, Olive Garden, Papa John’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Sonic, Starbucks, Taco Bell and Wendy’s.
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Starbucks said, “Even though we purchase a limited amount of meat, we are working with our suppliers to address concerns about antibiotic use and are looking to collaborate with others across our industry and in the NGO community to promote best practices on this issue”.
