McDonald's Canada Announces New Antibiotics Policy for Chicken

McDonald's USA has been working closely with farmers for years to reduce the use of antibiotics in its poultry supply. Image: McDonalds's Canada, Twitter

McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited announced a new initiative to only source chicken raised without antibiotics that are important to human medicine by the end of 2018.

Also read, Burger King To Ditch Antibiotics Over Health Concerns.

"Our guests want food that they feel great about eating – all the way from the farm to the restaurant – and this move takes another step toward better delivering on those expectations," said John Betts, President and CEO, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited.

McDonald's USA has been working closely with farmers for years to reduce the use of antibiotics in its poultry supply. This new Canadian sourcing policy supports McDonald's Global Vision for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Food Animals introduced in March this year, which builds on the 2003 global antibiotics policy and includes supplier guidance on the thoughtful use of antibiotics in all food animals. 

All of the chicken served at McDonald's more than 1,400 Canadian restaurants, including in its iconic Chicken McNuggets, comes from Canadian chicken farmers and McDonald's Canada will work closely with industry to implement the new antibiotics policy in its chicken supply chain within the next three years.

While McDonald's Canada will only source chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine, the 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.

SOURCE McDonald's Canada