McDonald’s is directing its meat suppliers to stop using growth-promoting antibiotics due to concerns that their widespread use could reduce the effectiveness of the drugs in people.
McDonald’s uses more than 2.5 billion pounds of chicken, beef and pork each year. It is the largest purchaser of beef in the United States and one of the largest purchaser’s of chicken and pork.
Some meat producers use the drugs in animal feed to make animals grow faster. The new policy calls for the elimination or scaling back of antibiotic drug use, which will noticeably reduce the amount of antibiotics being used since McDonald’s purchases such a large portion of the meats.
In 2001, close to 22 million pounds of antibiotics were used on farms. While a company representing manufacturers of drugs for animal use estimates that 13 percent to 17 percent of this amount was used for growth promotion, an advocacy groups places the estimate at over 50 percent.
McDonald’s new policy, which will be effective by the end of 2004, calls for its direct suppliers, which mainly provide chicken, to stop using 24 growth promoters that are similar to antibiotics used in humans. The company uses independent farmers to supply its beef, chicken and pork, and will consider it a "favorable factor" if the supplier does not use growth promoters.
The regular use of antibiotics in animal feed to promote animal growth leads bacteria to evolve into forms that are resistant to the antibiotics. The resistant bacteria can then be transferred to people and antibiotics will not be useful in treating them. Antibiotics such as penicillin and tetracycline have already become much less effective than they once were, and doctors and health officials have voiced concerns that newer antibiotics might face a similar fate.
McDonald’s policy allows antibiotics to treat sick animals and to prevent disease outbreaks on farms. Some activists say this could allow farmers to continue using growth promoters by claiming they were for disease control.
Washington Post June 19, 2003; Page A03
Most people don’t know that about 70 percent of the antibiotics produced in the United States each year--nearly 25 million pounds in all--are fed to healthy animals including:
This is an insane practice and one of the reasons why antibiotics don’t work that well in humans.
It is very encouraging to see McDonald’s take such a heads-up approach here. Many perceive McDonald’s as an evil influence in our culture; however, I am not one of them.
I have enormous respect for their commitment to excellence and providing the public with what they want. It is not their fault the public is demanding inexpensive junk food. If that is what they want that is what they will give them.
However, if we can improve the consciousness of the public to demand healthier foods, McDonald’s and other restaurants will be all too happy to accommodate us.
Until that time you might want to consider purchasing organic grass-fed meat. The best source would be to find a local farmer who can supply you. This way you can avoid paying expensive shipping charges.
However, for many urban dwellers that is not practical. If you would like the convenience of obtaining antibiotic- and hormone-free meat you can check our store out.
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