Chain Reaction V

The growth and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a global health crisis, threatening to create a future in which common infections could once again become life-threatening on a large scale. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consider antibiotic-resistant bacteria among the top threats to global public health, and the CDC estimates that each year, at least 23,000 Americans die from resistant infections.^[1] Another estimate suggests it could be seven times as many, accounting for more than 160,000 annual deaths.^[2]

The overuse of antibiotics in livestock production significantly contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria.^[3] The more antibiotics are used, the more opportunities resistant bacteria have to multiply and spread. Approximately two-thirds of the medically-important antibiotics sold in the U.S. go to food animals.^[4],[5],[6] Many meat producers routinely give the drugs to animals that are not sick to prevent diseases caused by factory farm production practices.^[7] Despite the threat posed to public health, the U.S. lacks effective laws and policies to prevent the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture.

Fast food restaurants, as some of America’s largest meat buyers, can play an instrumental role in pushing meat producers to use antibiotics responsibly. In fact, previous editions of Chain Reaction have documented how the nation’s top restaurant chains have stepped up their commitments to source chicken from producers that raise animals without the routine use of antibiotics.^[8] These corporate actions have helped move the chicken industry toward more responsible antibiotic use practices. A recent industry estimate shows that in 2018 more than 90 percent of U.S. broiler chickens were raised under programs that don’t use medically important antibiotics as defined by the FDA, and more than half didn’t use any antibiotics at all.^[9] 

Consumers continue to want restaurants to serve meat raised without the routine use of antibiotics. For instance, in a nationally representative 2018 survey of 1,014 adults conducted by Consumer Reports, 59 percent of those polled indicated that they’d be more likely to eat at a restaurant that served meat raised without antibiotics — and more than half agreed that restaurants should stop serving meat and poultry raised with antibiotics.^[10]

Although there is massive progress in the chicken industry in response to such consumer demand, many fast food restaurants have failed to make meaningful commitments to address antibiotic overuse in their beef supply chains. This is concerning because in 2017, the beef sector accounted for 42 percent of the medically-important antibiotics sold to the meat industry — more than any other meat category.^[11] By contrast, five percent of all medically important antibiotic sales to the meat sector went to the chicken industry.

This year’s Chain Reaction report and scorecard therefore focuses on antibiotic use policies and practices for beef sold in the top U.S. fast food and fast casual chains. Though not our primary focus, Chain Reaction authors also surveyed and reported on progress related to antibiotic use across all meat and poultry supply chains of the nation’s top fast food and fast casual restaurants.

Burger chains especially have a crucial role to play in reducing antibiotic use. To protect public health and push the beef industry to eliminate the overuse of antibiotics, restaurants — especially burger chains — should commit to sourcing beef from producers that use antibiotics under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian, and only to treat animals diagnosed with an illness or in limited circumstances to control a verified disease outbreak. So far, however, few have done so.

Our survey showed that only two chains, Chipotle and Panera Bread, source beef raised without the routine use of antibiotics. Most other chains have no established policy restricting antibiotic use in their beef supply chains. 

Shortly after Chain Reaction IV was released, McDonald’s announced a commitment to monitor and reduce medically important antibiotic use in its beef supply. This action by the nation’s largest beef purchaser bumped McDonald’s from an F to a C in this year’s report and earned it the “Biggest Mooover” award. Wendy’s, on the other hand, continues to take very small steps forward to reduce antibiotic use in its beef supply chain, which earned the company a D+ and the “Biggest Wannabe” award this year. Wendy’s should follow McDonald’s lead in committing to a comprehensive antibiotic use policy.

While restaurants and major meat producers have critical roles to play in stopping the overuse of antibiotics, the government must also act to achieve the kind of lasting, industry-wide change needed to fully protect public health.

Policymakers should only allow beef producers to use medically-important antibiotics under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian, and to treat animals diagnosed with an illness or to control a verified disease outbreak. Policymakers should also set national goals for reduction of antibiotic use in food animals, and dramatically improve collection and disclosure of antibiotic use data. Comprehensive policy reforms will ensure that all meat producers across the U.S. meet the same responsible antibiotic use standards. These reforms are vital to preserving life-saving medicines for the future health of both animals and people.