Chick-fil-A has decided to backtrack on its promise to serve antibiotic-free chicken, opting instead to only serve chicken free of antibiotics that are important for human medicine starting this spring. The fast-food company clarified that its poultry going forward may have been raised with animal antibiotics, but only if necessary for the health of the animal or those around it. While the chicken will still be free of artificial preservatives, steroids, and added hormones, this change represents a shift from Chick-fil-A’s original commitment to antibiotic-free chicken made in 2014.
This decision comes in the wake of an avian-flu outbreak that has led some chicken farmers to resort to antibiotics in order to protect their flock. Tyson Foods, a major player in the food processing industry, recently announced it was abandoning its own “no antibiotics ever” pledge. However, some poultry producers like Perdue Farms and Pilgrim’s Pride continue to stand by their commitment to antibiotic-free practices. This move by Chick-fil-A raises concerns about the potential impact of antibiotics in our food on human immunity to disease treatments, although the Food and Drug Administration prioritizes the use of antibiotics commonly prescribed to humans over those used for animal illnesses.
As Chick-fil-A navigates changes in the poultry industry and responds to health concerns about antibiotic use in food, customers may be grappling with the implications of this shift in policy. Some may applaud Chick-fil-A’s transparency about the antibiotics used in their chicken, while others may be disappointed to see the company move away from its initial commitment to antibiotic-free poultry. The debate surrounding antibiotics in food will likely continue, as consumers and health officials alike consider the potential risks and benefits of using these medications in animal agriculture.
