McDonald’s aims to reduce antibiotic use in beef

McDonald’s has announced its intention to reduce the use of certain antibiotics in its global beef supply.

The move by the world’s biggest fast-food chain addresses concerns that the overuse in farm animals of antibiotics vital to fighting human infections may diminish the drugs’ effectiveness in people.

“McDonald’s believes antibiotic resistance is a critical public health issue, and we take seriously our unique position to use our scale for good to continue to address this challenge,” said Keith Kenny, the company’s Global Vice President for Sustainability, in a written release.

The plan does not yet contain specific targets, however. Rather it contains a commitment from the company to study the problem in conjunction with the company’s top-tem beef supply markets. From that study the company will then set measurable goals for each supply market before the end of 2020.

The company is also not committing to reduce the use of all antibiotics in its beef supply. Instead it will look to “identify opportunities to refine, reduce and replace” those antibiotics “important to human medicine”, according to the statement released today.

That said, with today’s statement McDonald’s became the largest single buyer to commit to addressing the issue of antibiotic use in cattle, a move that will potentially not only create a new standard for livestock producers but will also put pressure on the other fast-food chains to follow suit.

“McDonald’s iconic position and the fact that they’re the largest single global purchaser of beef make it hugely important,” David Wallinga, a senior health adviser for the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council told The Guardian.

“The Golden Arches just raised the bar for responsible antibiotic use in meat production. We can’t afford to misuse these precious medicines. Otherwise, we risk losing our ability to treat life-threatening infections," said Matthew Wellington, Antibiotics Program Director of the Public Interest Research Group. “What McDonald’s is doing will hopefully start to shift the industry all together from over-using antibiotics.”

Now headquartered in Chicago McDonald’s was founded as a single family restaurant in San Bernardino, California in 1940. It is now the world’s largest restaurant chain by revenue, serving over 69 million customers daily.

Although franchisees set their own menu prices, McDonald’s company spokesperson Lauren Altmin said the company does not expect the new policy to raise hamburger prices.

McDonald’s shares closed down 0.5% on daily trading.

(Image courtesy the McDonald’s Corporation)