Tyson Foods has launched an antibiotic-free line of chicken, labeled as “Raised Without Antibiotics” and “100% Natural” at the grocery store.

This quote from a UPenn doctor sounds like she’s getting paid well by Tyson.


“This is great news for American consumers who have made it clear they pay attention to the use and presence of all sorts of antibiotics in the environment,” said Dr. Lisa Hark, PhD, RD, director of the Nutrition Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. “Now families can buy fresh chicken raised without antibiotics at their regular grocery store without a trip to an expensive specialty store. And because Tyson is available across the country, this is news every family will care about.” 

 

Of course this isn’t a bad thing, but Tyson is promoting it as if they’re heroes, when really they’re just reacting to consumer demand. The release, and an email from the Union of Concerned Scientists, make it hard to discern if they’re still going to offer what Tyson calls “traditional” (shot up with drugs) chicken, or if this is company wide for all poultry. All of the “fresh” chicken will be antibiotic free, they state.

Here’s a stat from UCS. . .

Currently, an estimated 70 percent of antibiotics and related drugs in the United States are used in the feed and water of healthy animals—a practice with serious consequences for human health. Bacteria that are constantly exposed to antibiotics develop resistance to these drugs. When humans get sick from resistant bacteria, the antibiotics prescribed will no longer work.

It’s definitely a good sign, regardless of the motivations or actual implications. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem, and very likely related to our heavy consumption of antibiotic-raised factory animals. If you’re going to eat corporate meat purchased at a corporate store, at least you have a little bit of a better option.