McDonald's to reduce global antibiotic use in chicken products
It will begin implementing a new broiler chicken antibiotics policy in 2018.
According to a McDonald’s Global spokesperson, “McDonald’s has a global vision to source all of our food and packaging responsibly and sustainably. That’s why, we’ve been working with suppliers, academic advisors, scientists, and non-governmental organizations on our chicken sustainability efforts to evolve with customers’ tastes and preferences.”
Starting 2018, the company will begin implementing a new broiler chicken antibiotics policy in certain markets outside the U.S., which will require the elimination of antibiotics defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as Highest Priority Critically Important (HPCIA) to human medicine.
To make sure the policy can be effectively implemented, McDonald’s is taking a tiered approach. Starting January 2018, HPCIAs will be eliminated in broiler chicken for Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea, the U.S., and Europe, but with an exception for Colistin for Europe. The end of 2019 will see HPCIAs eliminated in broiler chicken for Australia and Russia, and Europe plans to have removed Colistin.
In January 2027, HPCIAs will be eliminated in all other designated markets around the world.
“This is a significant milestone in our food journey where we can achieve impactful change on a key societal issue.”
