As concern over the dangers of drug-resistant bacteria rises, a set of shareholders led by a group of nuns is telling McDonald’s that dropping chicken raised on human antibiotics is not enough and that it needs to do the same with its pork and beef products.
This week, the Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Boerne from Texas introduced a shareholder resolution that, if approved, would require those that supply McDonald’s with any type of meat — be it chicken, pork or beef — to stop giving their animals antibiotics that are used to fight disease in humans.
The move comes as a new report gave letter grades to popular fast food chains based on their use of antibiotics in their products. McDonald’s scored a “C” grade, while the only two to score an “A” were Chipotle and Panera Bread. Chains like Taco Bell, Burger King and Pizza Hut were handed failing grades.
Taking antibiotics that humans rely on and using them on animals is a trend that is being increasingly linked to the rise of strong illnesses, since the bacteria develops resistance in the animals when they are not given strong enough doses. When and if the bacteria spread to humans, it becomes noticeably harder to treat.
In 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration stated that 80 percent of all antibiotics used in the United States are within the realm of animal agriculture.
Meanwhile, a separate study from December 2014 found that, if no major adjustments are made, resistant bacteria could take the lives of 10 million people around the world every year.
McDonald’s is one of many companies now trying to get past this issue. In April, the largest poultry producer in the US, Tyson Foods, announced it would also eliminate the use of human antibiotics in its chicken by September 2017.
This piece was reprinted by RINF Alternative News with permission or license.
Via RT.