Healthier chickens on the market
...producers
cut use of antibiotics
Four of the 10 largest chicken producers in the US are ending the practice of feeding chickens low doses of antibiotics.
The largest use of
antibiotics in the United States is to feed animals. This practice, commonly
used in large-scale poultry operations, made the chickens grow faster
and stay healthy. However, health groups have for years argued that doing
so was causing a public health crisis.
Low levels of antibiotics in animal feed have been linked to antibiotic-resistant
bacterial infections in humans. Groups such as the World Health Organization
and the American Medical Association have been campaigning to stop the
practice for years.
One such antibiotic-resistant strain is Campylobacter, a pathogen common
to chicken products. Campylobacter is responsible for inducing food poisoning
in more than 1 million Americans every year and is considered a growing
health threat. According to a study by Johns Hopkins, chickens raised
without the use of antibiotics are less likely to have antibiotic-resistant
strains of Campylobacters.
Now, Tyson Foods, Gold Kist, Perdue Farms and Foster Farms have all stopped using antibiotics for growth enhancement purposes. Combined, the four companies produce almost 40 percent of the chickens raised for eating in the United States. Tyson Foods, the nation's largest chicken producer, has led the way with a 93% reduction in antibiotic use. Tyson claims that the move is connected with developing hardier breeds and better husbandry. Antibiotics will still be used, however, to treat disease outbreaks.
Europe has already banned the technique, and McDonald's stopped using chickens grown under the regimen. Panera Bread and Arby's have also stopped buying chickens raised in this manner. Bon Appétit Management Co., the nation's fourth-largest food service company that provides cafe and catering services to corporations, colleges and universities, implemented a policy in 2004 that doesn't even allow antibiotics for disease prevention. Such moves by large-scale purchasers of chicken have likely been a major factor in ending the practice among producers.
Although this is seen
as an improvement in the quality of commercially-produced chicken, organically
raised chickens which have not been fed grains grown using pesticides
are considered the healthiest for consumption.
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Healthier chickens on the market
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