The report gives an F grade to 20 of the top 25 restaurant chains – including Burger King, Wendy’s and KFC – because they have no disclosed policy on antibiotics use or have policies that the group deemed allow for the routine use of antibiotics in the meats they serve.
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The progress beginning with the Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, Texas, comes amid developing interest from healthcare specialists that this overexertion of that drug use is donating to building amounts of deadly our problems from antibiotic-resistant microorganism named “superbugs”. The company also committed earlier this year to removing antibiotics from its chicken by 2017.
An investor in the McDonald’s restaurant chain is demanding that the company eliminate all antibiotics from their meat products under the guise that these chemicals can endanger humans. But the chain hasn’t announced any changes to its beef and pork supply. The report rated Panera and Chipotle with an “A”, whereas McDonald’s scored a “C”.
“We can reach a lot of people’s lives every day if changes are made” at McDonald’s and other fast-food chains, said Mika, who added that other shareholder groups of nuns and priests have vowed to back the new resolution. “This double-standard makes no sense to us”, said Sr.
The congregation is part of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, which is responsible for organizing the new campaign. Now, however, it’s back on the table and ICCR says there will be more to come from shareholders. The Daily Meal recently reported on a study from Friends of the Earth, which graded fast food and fast casual restaurants on their antibiotics use.
While ICCR is hopeful McDonald’s will respond positively to the request, it said its members are prepared to raise the issue with all shareholders at McDonald’s annual general meeting in May.
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Taking antibiotics that humans rely on and using them on animals is a trend that is being increasingly linked to the rise of strong illnesses, since the bacteria develops resistance in the animals when they are not given strong enough doses. The CDC estimates at least 2 million Americans contract antibiotic-resistant infections every year, CNN Money notes.
