Chick-fil-A announced it will shift away from its commitment to serve only antibiotic-free chicken, citing supply reasons.

“To maintain supply of the high-quality chicken you expect from us, Chick-fil-A will shift from No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) to No Antibiotics Important To Human Medicine (NAIHM) starting in the Spring of 2024,” the fast food chain said.

From Chick-fil-A:

NAE means no antibiotics of any kind were used in raising the animal. NAIHM restricts the use of those antibiotics that are important to human medicine and commonly used to treat people, and allows use of animal antibiotics only if the animal and those around it were to become sick.

USA Today reports:

In 2014, the fast-food chain announced that it planned only to sell chicken raised without antibiotics at all its stores within five years. By 2019, all Chick-fil-A restaurants were serving 100% antibiotic-free chicken.

“As we looked to the future, the availability of high-quality chicken that meets our rigid standards became a concern. This change enables us to not only ensure we can continue to serve high-quality chicken, but also chicken that still meets the expectations our customers count on us to deliver,” Chick-fil-A told USA TODAY in a statement.

The move follows announcements made by several other companies. In 2023, Tyson Foods, the largest chicken producer in the United States, also moved away from its 2015 pledge of “no antibiotics ever.”

“No specific deadline has yet to be announced for the change to roll out,” Fox Business noted.

According to some, Chick-fil-A’s chicken was never healthy to consume.

“Is Chick-fil-A’s grilled chicken 100% chicken? Not even close… There are over 100 ingredients in your Chick-fil-A’s grilled chicken sandwich!” Paul Saladino, MD said in October 2023.

WATCH:

“Chick-fil-a wasn’t serving antibiotic-free chicken anyway. A recent undercover study by the non-profit Moms Across America showed that Chick-fil-a food contained nicarbazin, a chicken contraceptive and anti-parasite medication. Fast food is laced with this stuff,” Raw Egg Nationalist said.

From Fox Business:

“As we looked to the future, the availability of high-quality chicken that meets our rigid standards became a concern. This change enables us to not only ensure we can continue to serve high-quality chicken, but also chicken that still meets the expectations our customers count on us to deliver,” a Chick-fil-A spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement.

The announcement was sent to app users as well, according to Reuters.

Panera Bread also recently switched from its antibiotic-free policy in its pork and turkey products, writing that the policy limited its supply chain options, according to documents obtained by Reuters.

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.