Antibiotics considered important to humans will be eliminated from broiler chickens by January 2018 for many of McDonald's major markets, including U.S., Europe and Canada.

Jacqui Fatka, Policy editor

August 24, 2017

2 Min Read
McDonald's to cut antibiotic usage

Starting in 2018, McDonald’s will begin implementing a new broiler chicken antibiotics policy in markets around the world that will require the elimination of important human antibiotics. Farmers still use ionophores, a class of antibiotics that are not prescribed to people, to help keep chickens healthy.

To make sure this policy can be effectively implemented, the fast-food giant said it is taking a tiered approach. By January 2018, antibiotics classified as highest priority critically important (HPCIA) to human medicine will be eliminated in broiler chicken for Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and Europe, with an exception for Colistin in Europe only.

By the end of 2019, the HPCIA antibiotics will be eliminated in broiler chickens for Australia and Russia, and Europe plans to have removed Colistin. The final tier is January 2027, whereas McDonald’s has committed to eliminating HPCIA antibiotics in all other designated markets around the world.

“Our goal is to have this policy implemented before this date,” McDonald’s said. “We feel that these timelines give McDonald’s and suppliers the ability to set credible, achievable goals.”

Earlier this year, McDonald’s released an update to its Global Vision for Antibiotic Stewardship in Food Animals (VAS), which seeks to preserve antibiotic effectiveness in the future through ethical practices today. As a framework for antibiotic stewardship, the VAS seeks animal production practices that reduce and, where possible, eliminate the need for antibiotic therapies in food animals by adopting existing best practices and/or new practices.

“With that said, we understand that animals, like people, get sick and require treatment. Treating sick animals is consistent with McDonald’s long-standing commitment to animal health and welfare and to improve the lives of animals in our supply chain,” McDonald’s said in its statement. “Engaging farmers, producers and veterinarians in the responsible use of antibiotics is key to our vision of preserving antibiotic effectiveness through ethical practices.”

The company is also working on plans to cut down on antibiotics used in meat, dairy cows and hens as part of a global health push.

About the Author(s)

Jacqui Fatka

Policy editor, Farm Futures

Jacqui Fatka grew up on a diversified livestock and grain farm in southwest Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, with a minor in agriculture education, in 2003. She’s been writing for agricultural audiences ever since. In college, she interned with Wallaces Farmer and cultivated her love of ag policy during an internship with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, working in Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Capitol Hill press office. In 2003, she started full time for Farm Progress companies’ state and regional publications as the e-content editor, and became Farm Futures’ policy editor in 2004. A few years later, she began covering grain and biofuels markets for the weekly newspaper Feedstuffs. As the current policy editor for Farm Progress, she covers the ongoing developments in ag policy, trade, regulations and court rulings. Fatka also serves as the interim executive secretary-treasurer for the North American Agricultural Journalists. She lives on a small acreage in central Ohio with her husband and three children.

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