Could McDonald's use of antibiotics in animals leads to superbugs in humans?
Since McDonald's has now ceased the excessive use of antibiotics in its poultry supply chain for US restaurants, UK-based charity ShareAction is pushing the company to take the initiative worldwide.
The charity, which works to fight against the rise of drug-resistant bacteria and superbugs, is urging consumers to e-mail McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook and express their concerns.
Meat supply chains regularly include the use of antibiotics as a preventative measure against illness, which can lead to bugs and infections becoming resistant to them. This resistance then affects the consumer, who can become increasingly susceptible to diseases and superbugs as a result. Superbugs kill around 23,000 Americans a year.
McDonald's has now implemented a change in its poultry supply chain for US restaurants only, but ShareAction believes this should be made standard worldwide.
ShareAction and the Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return initiative have attempted to push 10 big food companies – McDonald’s included – to announce a timeline for prohibiting antibiotics use. McDonald’s responded with a statement, claiming that such a thing was premature.