Food giants like Chick-fil-A and Panera Bread built their reputations on offering customers quality ingredients. A key part of this for them and similar fast food chains was a commitment to antibiotic-free meat. But recently, there’s been a troubling trend: companies are backtracking on these promises.
Chick-fil-A was once a champion of antibiotic-free chicken. In 2014, they pledged to serve only chicken raised without antibiotics “ever” (NAE; No Antibiotics Ever). This move resonated with health-conscious consumers concerned about antibiotic resistance, a growing public health threat. In addition, 24 other food chains vowed to make effort in joining the movement after receiving sub-par ratings from various consumer reports who rated the quality of their meats.
However, this month, both Chick-fil-A and Panera Bread have quietly switched to a policy allowing “No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine” (NAIHM). This means their meat may still be raised with some antibiotics, just not those crucial for human health. This new recent trend has also included food processing giant Tyson Foods who announced last summer it was reintroducing certain antibiotics to its chicken supply chain, after undergoing an antibiotic-free streak since 2017.
Why the Backtrack on ‘No Antibiotics Ever’?
Chick-fil-A cites maintaining a “high-quality” chicken supply as one of the reasons for the change along with foreseeing certain challenges in finding chicken supplies that meets their standards. However, some critics suspect cost-cutting is a bigger factor. Raising antibiotic-free chicken can be more expensive due to stricter raising practices and higher potential for illness in the birds. Also lets not pretend as if many companies across multiple industries aren’t currently in a “cost cutting phase” which is contributing to a rise in layoffs across the board. Unfortunately when this type of phenomenon hits food industries in particular, in can produce results that could potentially hinder the quality of our diets.
Is NAIHM Good Enough?
While NAIHM is a step in the right direction, it doesn’t eliminate the risk of antibiotic resistance. The overuse of any antibiotics in livestock can contribute to the development of superbugs – bacteria resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics. This can pose a serious threat to human health, making it harder to treat common infections.
What Can You Do?
Consumers have a voice. If you’re concerned about antibiotic use in meat, here are some steps you can take:
- Ask questions: Contact your favorite restaurants, grocery stores, and even specific brands about their meat sourcing practices.
- Seek out NAE or organic options: While these choices might be pricier, they offer the strongest guarantee of antibiotic-free meat.
- Support companies committed to responsible sourcing: Look for brands transparent about their practices and committed to antibiotic-free meat production.
- Labels: Grassfed, Free-range, Cage-free, Pasture-raised etc; Labels regarding how an animal was confined does not indicate much about whether or not an animal received unnecessary antibiotics.
There’s no doubt that many restaurant chains and processors are probably silently back tracking on their ideal ‘No Antibiotics Ever’ stance. By staying informed and making conscious choices, you can send a message to the food industry that antibiotic-free meat remains a priority for consumers. Let’s keep the pressure on for healthier, more sustainable meat options.