U.S. PIRG Statement on Darden Restaurants Inc. committing to purchase chicken raised without medically important antibiotics

U.S. PIRG

The overuse of antibiotics to produce meat threatens our health by fueling the rise and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Yesterday, Darden Restaurants, parent company of Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse, responded to shareholder concerns brought by Green Century Capital Management, and committed to purchase chicken raised without antibiotics considered important to human medicine. 
 
“This move by Darden is a positive step forward in efforts to preserve our life-saving medicines. We urge the company to build on that momentum and commit to sourcing all of its meat from producers that do not use antibiotics routinely when raising their animals,” said Matthew Wellington, U.S. PIRG Antibiotics Program Director.