In an age when many have become hyperaware of the ingredients they put into their bodies, the Christian-owned Chick-fil-A announced in late March it is abandoning its years-long pledge of only using antibiotic-free chicken.
The decision was made, the restaurant chain said, in a statement shared on its website, to “maintain supply of the high-quality chicken you expect from us.”
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As a result, Chick-fil-A is amending its commitment from “No Antibiotics Ever (NAE)” in its chicken supply to “No Antibiotics Important To Human Medicine (NAIHM)” beginning this spring.
Antibiotics will only be used “if the animal and those around it were to become sick.” The medications used to treat poultry are not intended for humans.
“In accordance with FDA requirements,” the Chick-fil-A statement continued, “all antibiotics must be cleared from the chicken’s system before it is considered available for the chicken supply. The United States Department of Agriculture audits and verifies that suppliers are meeting the requirements of the Chick-fil-A NAIHM commitment.”
According to USA Today, Chick-fil-A implemented its NAE pledge in 2014 and, by 2019, all of the restaurant’s locations were serving 100% antibiotic-free chicken.
A representative for the chain told the newspaper, “As we looked to the future, the availability of high-quality chicken that meets our rigid standards became a concern. This change enables us to not only ensure we can continue to serve high-quality chicken, but also chicken that still meets the expectations our customers count on us to deliver.”
The shift — one made by several brands — comes amid an avian flu outbreak that has severely impacted poultry supplies nationwide, NBC News reported, forcing chicken farmers around the country to use antibiotics.
Last July, food processing brand Tyson announced it was ending its NAE pledge. Poultry producer Perdue Farms, on the other hand, has stood by its antibiotic-free promise.
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