But the next time you have a craving for a burger or chicken sandwich, ask if the meat and poultry served at the fast food chain is antibiotic free. Knowing whether or not the meat you eat comes from animals fed antibiotics is important.
The reason why is simple: antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance can make infections untreatable as the bacteria have encountered antibiotics enough to adapt and become resistant. This then forces doctors to prescribe stronger or different antibiotics, which can be hard on a patient.
The 14 companies account for two-thirds of all fast food industry revenue. The survey, conducted by Consumers Union, also found that five companies made a commitment for the first time to limit antibiotic use. They include KFC, Burger King, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Jack in the Box.
Most of the progress made by fast food companies to decrease or eliminate antibiotic use among their supply chains has been in chicken production, the survey found. That is big progress considering that a quarter of all chicken produced in the United States is sold at fast food restaurants.
There are a few companies that already follow better practices. Chipotle and Panera Bread serve pork, beef, and chicken from animals raised without antibiotics. Both companies earned an “A” grade from the Consumers Union report compiled from the survey. Subway adopted an antibiotic policy that addresses antibiotic use in meat and poultry. However, implementation of the policy in pork and beef is on a timeline, which is why the company earned a “B” grade.