Chick-fil-A, one of the largest fast-food restaurants in the U.S., is easing its commitment to using chickens raised without any antibiotics, a step that was criticized over concerns it could increase the risk of spreading antibiotic resistance among humans.
In a statement, the company said it will instead switch to chickens that are raised without the use of antibiotics that are considered important to human health. The change will occur this spring at the slightly more than 3,000 Chick-fil-A locations around the U.S, a decade after the chain announced it would implement a “No Antibiotics Ever” policy by 2019.
The move comes amid changes by key suppliers. Notably, Tyson Foods, which is one of the biggest poultry suppliers, a few months ago removed the “No Antibiotics Ever” label from its chickens after reportedly encountering higher costs. The initial effort to raise and sell chickens without using antibiotics began in 2017 as the company bet consumers would absorb the added expense.
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