WASHINGTON: Tyson Foods, the US meatpacker, is removing the “no antibiotics ever” label from certain chicken products and reintroducing antibiotics that are deemed unimportant to human health, according to a company spokesperson.
The antibiotics being added to the chicken supply chain are known as ionophores, which are primarily used to control a poultry disease called coccidiosis and maintain bird health. These drugs are not considered medically important for treating human illnesses, as stated by the World Health Organization.
Tyson Foods to Complete Labelling by Year End
Tyson Foods is expected to complete the transition to a new labeling approach called “No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine” (NAIHM) for its branded products by the end of the year, based on current scientific understanding.
In 2017, Tyson Foods had switched its retail line of company-branded chicken products to birds raised without any antibiotics.
