After reintroducing antibiotics to its poultry supply chain, Tyson Foods is now scaling back on the sale of beef raised without antibiotics.
Despite this decision, Tyson stated that it will still offer antibiotic-free beef in response to market demand, emphasizing its commitment to antibiotic stewardship.
The company expressed its dedication to the health and welfare of animals in its supply chain, making decisions based on scientific evidence and evolving best practices for the benefit of customers, consumers, and the animals under its care.
In a recent post on its website, Tyson mentioned that beef sourced for its products may contain small amounts of FDA-approved growth promotants to enhance lean weight gain.
Open Prairie, known for its all-natural meat products, no longer includes antibiotic-free beef on its website but continues to offer pork.
Over the past decade, the meat industry has shifted away from antibiotics in livestock farming due to consumer concerns about antibiotic resistance. Producing meat without antibiotics is more costly, leading to higher prices at grocery stores.
In 2017, Tyson announced the removal of antibiotics from its poultry supply chain, but last summer, signs of a reversal emerged as the company reintroduced birds raised with antibiotics by removing “no antibiotics ever” labels from some chicken products.
Despite this shift, Perdue Farms, a major competitor in the chicken market, affirmed its commitment to maintaining an antibiotic-free supply chain.
Meat products claiming to be antibiotic-free have come under scrutiny for the accuracy of their labels, with a recent study revealing that 42% of feedyards with “Raised Without Antibiotics” certification had animals testing positive for antibiotics.