Chick-fil-A has declared its decision to permit specific antibiotics in its chicken, reversing a commitment made back in 2014.
According to a recent statement posted on its website and sent as a notification to the chain’s app users, the alteration will come into effect in spring 2024. The adjustment aims “to maintain the supply of the high-quality chicken you expect from us.”
The statement clarifies that the permitted antibiotics are not critical to human health and are administered only “if the animal and those around it were to become sick.”
In response to Reuters inquiries, the company cited challenges in securing chicken supplies that “meet our rigorous standards” as the reason for the policy change.
This development mirrors similar retractions by other corporations. Tyson Foods, a major chicken supplier, announced last summer its reintroduction of specific antibiotics to its chicken supply chain, reversing its antibiotic-free status from 2017.
Similarly, Panera Bread, an early adopter of antibiotic-free commitments like Chick-fil-A, recently revised its animal welfare policies. The changes allow the use of antibiotics in pork and turkey products, among other alterations, as revealed by Reuters earlier this month. Internal documents from Panera suggested that its prior no-antibiotics policy limited its supply chain options to just 5% of available pork on the market.
