McDonald's Will Stop Selling Chicken With Human Antibodies

(RTTNews) - McDonald's (MCD) on Wednesday said its restaurants in the U.S. would source antibiotics-free chicken within two years as part of efforts by the fast food giant to fight multi-drug resistant "superbugs" and protect immunity in consumers.

McDonald's will also offer customers milk jugs of low-fat white milk and fat-free chocolate milk from cows that are not treated with an artificial growth hormone known as rbST.

"Our customers want food that they feel great about eating -- all the way from the farm to the restaurant -- and these moves take a step toward better delivering on those expectations," said Mike Andres, McDonald's U.S President.

It is apparent that chicken and cattle farmers use accepted and small amount of antibiotics, and when consumers eat the food products, their exposure to antibiotics enhance the survival of the stronger bacteria and consequently impairs immunity.

McDonald's said it has been working with farmers for years to reduce the use of antibiotics in its poultry supply as healthcare activists raised concern over use of antibiotics in poultry and cattle.

The fast food giant said it would only source chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine, and that farmers who supply chicken for its menu will continue to responsibly use ionophores, a type of antibiotic not used for humans that helps keep chickens healthy.

McDonald's also said animals that need appropriate veterinary care will continue to be administered antibiotics but would not enter its food supply.