Chickens (Photo : Reuters/Randall Hill)
Subway announced on October 20, Tuesday that next year its over 27,000 restaurants in the United States will begin switching to poultry products that are only made from chickens and turkeys that were raised without antibiotics. The company plans to make all poultry dishes antibiotic-free within 2 or 3 years, then all beef and pork menu items will lack the germ-killing drugs within 6 years later.
Subway announced that customers can purchase chicken with no antibiotics starting in March of 2016, according to Food Safety News. Afterwards antibiotic-free turkey will also be available to customers across the United States.
Several other U.S. restaurant chains have already promised to start serving antibiotic-free chicken. They include McDonald's, Chipotle, and Chick-fil-A.
Last year Subway announced in August that it would start phasing out chicken raised with antibiotic injections. However, many consumer groups argued that Subway had not been transparent or precise about its plans.
Several of those groups praised the fast food chain's decision. They had planned to send 300,000 petitions about the antibiotics issue to the company's Connecticut headquarters next week.
Steve Blackledge is a public health program director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). It is one of the coalition's members.
Blackledge explained that overusing antibiotics on poultry and livestock causes antibiotic-resistant infections or "superbugs." It is a major health problem.
Other fast food chains still serve antibiotic-treated meat. However, Kari Hamerschlag of Friends of the Earth said the coalition had targeted Subway to make the switch because it claims to be a healthy restaurant chain, according to WTOP.
Subway announced in June that it would remove all artificial colors and flavors from soups, salads, sandwiches, and cookies in its North American stores. That will be by the conclusion of 2017.
Subway was founded in 1965 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It has over 44,000 franchise locations in more than 110 countries, and is the the U.S.'s largest fast food chain in terms of stores.
This video explains how antibiotic-injected chickens could be creating superbugs:
