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Statements on Antibiotic Use by Major Poultry Producers
Tyson Foods
“Tyson Foods, a leader among the poultry industry in reducing antibiotic use in its chickens, has chosen to discontinue its previously minimal use of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics in the production of its broiler chickens.... According to Dr. Patrick Pilkington, Tyson Vice President of Live Production Services, ‘This move is part of Tyson’s ongoing effort, which began over five years ago, to decrease antibiotic use in its flocks.... Continued improvements in animal husbandry and increased bio-security measures have enabled us to reduce the use of antibiotics in recent years.’”
“Tyson says it has cut back on antibiotics that are similar to those used on humans, and now uses only two when a flock is at risk of disease.”
Gold Kist Inc
“Gold Kist Inc., the nation’s second largest chicken processor, affirmed today that it will continue its policy of not using antibiotics of human health significance at non-therapeutic levels for its broiler chickens.”
“Gold Kist Inc.,.... today announced that it had discontinued its rare use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the production of broiler chickens. President and Chief Executive Officer John Bekkers said '....we are taking this action to assure our customers and consumers that Gold Kist Farms brand chicken is free of fluoroquinolones.’”
ConAgra Poultry
“ConAgra Poultry Company does not use any antibiotics for growth promotion or prophylactic purposes at any location. Some antibiotics may be used when absolutely necessary to treat systemic conditions in chickens, and never used on healthy flocks. ConAgra Poultry Company follows the FDA’s guidelines on feed and water withdrawal. ConAgra Poultry does not use fluoroquinolones. Excellent breeding and rearing practices have made the need for antibiotic usage minimal.”
Perdue Farms
“Currently we are not using medically important antibiotics nontherapeutically that would be used in human medicine like penicillin, tetracycline and sulfonamides.... The primary reason is that we want to make absolutely sure if there is any question that we are in no way, shape or form contributing to antibiotic resistance in humans. We want to make sure there is no overuse.”
“Perdue Incorporated has announced it will no longer use Fluoroquinolone antibiotics to treat any of its chicken or turkey flocks. The zero-tolerance policy takes effect immediately throughout the company and will be applicable to all breeder, broiler, Cornish, OVEN STUFFER® roaster and turkey flocks. Perdue believes it is the only major poultry company to totally eliminate the use of Fluoroquinolones.”
Wayne Farms
“We do not use antibiotics of human health significance at sub-therapeutic levels, such as tetracyclines, penicillin, and sulfonamides in our poultry feeds. Less than 1% of our broilers receive therapeutic doses of antibiotics, and only for the treatment of acute disease.”
Foster Farms
“Foster Farms says it uses no antibiotics at all, except to treat sick birds.... Foster Farms does not use fluoroquinolones.”
Claxton
“Our company has for sometime had a policy of only using antibiotics for the treatment of diagnosed illness within broiler flocks. However, as a result of your communication I have charged our line production department to make a complete review of our antibiotic use to insure that our policies are consistent with the Tyson and Perdue pledge. After this review I will notify you and your organization if our policy for antibiotic use does not go at least as far as Perdue and Tyson.”
Bell & Evans
“For years our Bell & Evans chickens have been raised without antibiotics, animal byproducts or animal fats. Unlike some others, our company strives to raise ALL of our chickens without the use of antibiotics and to demanding humane standards. Bell & Evans has had a Preharvest HACCP plan in place to certify this industry-leading performance.”
Murray’s Chickens
“Murray's 'All Natural Chickens' are raised without use of antibiotics, growth stimulants, pesticides, and hormones.”
For more information, contact Michael Khoo at the Union of Concerned Scientists: 202-223-6133 or visit http://www.keepantibioticsworking.com.
Keep Antibiotics Working is a coalition of health, consumer, agricultural, environmental and other advocacy groups with more than nine million members dedicated to eliminating a major cause of antibiotic resistance—the inappropriate use of antibiotics in farm animals. The company statements in this document have not been independently verified. |