Antibiotic-free fast food: Some companies are breaking their promises

Did you know that fast food companies are important allies in the fight against deadly “superbugs?” 

Every year, as many as 160,000 Americans die from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We need to preserve the effectiveness of our life-saving antibiotics by using them only when we really need them.

By committing to only buying meat that wasn’t raised using antibiotics important to human medicine, restaurants like Chick-fil-A and Panera can make a huge difference in the fight against antibiotic resistant bacteria.

But unfortunately, both of these companies are going back on commitments that would have eliminated medically important antibiotics from their supply chains.

Are there antibiotics in my fast food meal?

No, you’re not ingesting antibiotics when you eat at Chick-fil-A or Panera. But the animals these restaurants use as ingredients for their food may have been routinely given antibiotics while they were being raised.

Oftentimes, antibiotics are used on animals that aren’t even sick, but rather to compensate for the stressful, unsanitary and overcrowded conditions they’re kept in on factory farms.

This routine use of antibiotics is the problem that gives rise to deadly antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.

How do antibiotics on farms lead to deadly “superbugs”? 

Antibiotics kill bacteria – that’s what they’re made to do. But every time you dose an animal with antibiotics, there is a chance that some of the bacteria survives because of a random mutation that gives it resistance.

The bacteria that aren’t killed by the initial dose of antibiotics survive to divide and reproduce. Ultimately, they can become the foundation of a colony of bacteria that all resist the antibiotic that was originally used on them. 

Over successive generations, more and more resilient strains of bacteria can emerge. These infections are especially difficult, and in some cases, impossible to treat.

The best way to prevent antibiotic resistance from developing is to use antibiotics only when absolutely necessary.

Chick-fil-A is breaking its pledge to serve only antibiotic free chicken.

Chick-fil-A sells its food to more than 2 billion customers every year. That’s a lot of chicken sandwiches, and a lot of poultry raised with the routine use of antibiotics.

Chick-fil-A once pledged to source only poultry raised with no antibiotics ever. But as of earlier this year, it’s going back on its word and reintroducing some antibiotics into its chicken supply chain.

Chick-fil-A should join the growing movement of food companies keeping our medicine effective by not using meat raised with the routine use of antibiotics. Chick-Fil-A had been a leader, and for the sake of our health they should regain that position by restoring their commitment to ‘no antibiotics ever.

Panera is breaking its pledge to serve only antibiotic free meat.

They’re calling it a “new era at Panera.” But don’t let the menu makeover deceive you. Panera may be introducing new soups and sandwiches, but it’s also reintroducing antibiotics in its meat supply.

In late February, Panera stores across the U.S. began quietly removing signs and artwork throughout the restaurant that included the phrase “No Antibiotics Ever.” Why? Because Panera will begin allowing some of its pork and turkey products to come from pigs and turkeys raised on routine antibiotics — unless we do something about it.

Take action to urge Panera to recommit to a “No Antibiotics Ever” policy, and extend that policy to all of its meat suppliers.