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McDonald’s says it’s taking steps to reduce the use of antibiotics in its beef. The fast food giant will partner with beef suppliers in its top 10 beef sourcing markets to assess current antibiotic use.Based on what it learns, McDonald’s will establish reduction targets for medically important antibiotics for those markets by the end of 2020. Starting in 2022, the company will report its progress on those targets. The policy applies to 85 percent of McDonald’s global beef supply chain.
“Our overall approach to responsible use of antibiotics focuses on refining their selection and administration, reducing their use, and ultimately replacing antibiotics with long-term solutions to prevent diseases and protect animal health and welfare. With this in mind, we remain committed to treating animals when needed,” a McDonald’s news release said.
The company also announced that it has joined the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Antimicrobial Resistance Challenge. It was launched in September 2018 and is a year-long effort to speed up the fight against antibiotic resistance, which is a serious global public health threat.