NPR

Lots Of Antibiotics Are Used In Beef Production. McDonald's Vows To Change This

The fast-food giant, one of the world's biggest beef buyers, announces plans to use its might to cut back on antibiotics in its global beef supply. Environmentalists are applauding the commitment.
A customer holds a McDonald's Big Mac. The fast-food giant, one of the world's biggest beef buyers, has announced plans to use its might to cut back on antibiotics in its global beef supply. Environmentalists are applauding the commitment.

Antibiotic resistance poses a threat to global health and food security. And McDonald's — one of the globe's largest purchasers of beef — gets it: The more that antibiotics are given to livestock, the more quickly bacteria could adapt and become resistant to them. Ultimately, experts say this could render the drugs ineffective for people.

When it comes to reducing the use of antibiotics in livestock, there's been a lot of progress in the poultry industry. Back in 2015, McDonald's its chicken suppliers from using antibiotics that are important

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