Chick-fil-A recently announced that it would be changing from antibiotic-free chicken to chicken that is free of antibiotics important to human medicine starting in the spring of 2024. This change is being made in order to maintain the supply of high-quality chicken that customers expect from the chain. The company had previously transitioned to antibiotic-free chicken in 2014 and met its goal of serving antibiotic-free chicken at all locations by 2019.
The decision to switch to chicken that is free of antibiotics important to human medicine means that only antibiotics that are commonly used to treat people will be restricted in the raising of the animals. In cases where the animals and those around them become sick, animal antibiotics will be allowed. The specific deadline for the change to roll out has not yet been announced, but the company has stated that the change is necessary to ensure the continued availability of high-quality chicken that meets their strict standards.
Chick-fil-A stated that the availability of high-quality chicken that meets their rigorous standards became a concern, which led to the decision to make this change. The spokesperson for Chick-fil-A emphasized that this change will enable the company to continue serving high-quality chicken that meets customer expectations. The announcement of the change was shared with app users as well, according to Reuters. This change in policy is in response to supply chain limitations that have impacted other food chains, such as Panera Bread, which recently altered its antibiotic-free policy in pork and turkey products for similar reasons.
In addition to Chick-fil-A, Tyson Foods also announced last summer that it would be reintroducing certain antibiotics to its chicken supply chain after having previously gone antibiotic-free in 2017. This industry-wide shift may indicate a trend where companies are balancing consumer demand for antibiotic-free products with challenges in the supply chain. As more food chains face these challenges, it remains to be seen how customers will respond to changes in antibiotic policies and how companies will continue to prioritize quality while ensuring they can meet demand. Chick-fil-A’s shift to chicken that is free of antibiotics important to human medicine is aimed at addressing these challenges and maintaining the high-quality standards that customers expect from the chain.
