Dive Brief:
- On the heels of McDonald's recent announcement regarding the subject, Costco says it's now looking to end human antibiotics use in chicken and other meat, reports Reuters.
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"We are working towards, and working with our suppliers and the regulatory agencies... to see how we can get rid of shared-use antibiotics in animals," Craig Wilson, the company's vice president of food safety, told Reuters over the phone. "I think all of us want to move to a point where we can get the human-use antibiotics out of the system. It's going to take time." According to both Wilson and Costco's CFO, Richard Galanti, there isn't yet an estimated date for said point.
- While it is lawful, "veterinary use of antibiotics" has raised eyebrows from consumer advocates as well as public health experts, reports Reuters.
Dive Insight:
Wilson added that this process is in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration as well as the Centers for Disease Control and the Center for Veterinary Medicine.
At this rate, between McDonald's and Costco making statements on this topic, other retailers and food service chains are likely not far off. This issue will be something to watch as further action is taken and, most likely someday, completed.