Tyson Foods to Stop Using Human Antibiotics in Chicken Supply

Tyson Foods has announced that they will begin to phase out the use of human antibiotics in its chicken supplies.

Tyson Foods made the announcement in a press release. The move is a major advance in the battle against antibiotic resistant diseases that have grown more prevalent in recent years. As one of the world's largest food companies, with operations in 130 countries, the move will have a global impact.

The use of human antibiotics in Tyson Foods chickens should be completed by Sept. 2017. The change will affect a number of brand names in the Tyson portfolio including Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, and State Farm.

The company says it will announce the initiative's progress in its annual summaries, starting in 2015. Tyson says that it has already reduced the use of human antibiotics in its chickens by 80% since 2011.

"Antibiotic resistant infections are a global health concern," said Donnie Smith, president and CEO of Tyson Foods. "We're confident our meat and poultry products are safe**, but want to do our part to responsibly reduce human antibiotics on the farm so these medicines can continue working when they're needed to treat illness."

The company also says that it has begun to form committees with the purpose of determining the best way to end the use of human antibiotics in the rest of the company's animal supplies. This includes pork, turkey, and beef.

The move by Tyson comes as other food giants have recently taken steps to meet consumer  demands for healthier foods. McDonald's recently announced plans to end the use of human antibiotics in the chickens it serves in its restaurants. Kraft Foods has said they will stop using artificial dyes to color its Mac N Cheese. Research has suggested the dyes may play a role in illnesses such as attention deficit disorder.