Chick-fil-A has dropped the strict No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) to a modified No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM). The Company has not specified the compounds that will be allowed but if this includes ionophore anticoccidial there will be a benefit to producers with no adverse effect for consumers. Ionophores are not regarded as “antibiotics” in the E.U. but because the compound suppresses some intestinal bacteria they were unjustifiably included as “antibiotics”, with respect to the FDA classification. If the Chick-fil-A standard allows the use of feed additive bacitracin, there will be no deleterious effect since this compound is not used for human medicine other than as a topical application and does not contribute to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Inclusion of bacitracin in broiler diets will suppress Clostridium spp. responsible for necrotic enteritis and gangrenous dermatitis.
It will be interesting to observe consumer response to the change in policy that will probably rise to the level of a large yawn. This will hold providing the chain maintains quality and value and can assure customers of ongoing welfare in production that conforms to the NCC standards.
The action by Chick-fil-A parallels the earlier announcement by Panera Bread and could initiate a trend among QSRs and mid-priced supermarket chains to adopt a more realistic policy on antibiotics consistent with scientific and financial realities.