Subway and its main supplier in the United States are not
commenting on reports that it will soon buy only chicken raised without
antibiotics.
The Subway policy will start next year with antibiotics
important to human medicine and progress in stages from there to all
antibiotics.
“We have been working
toward the elimination of antibiotics, as are many other companies, which makes
securing supply challenging for a chain our size,” a Subway spokeswoman is
quoted as telling a reporter for the Nation’s Restaurant News.
“We are working with
our suppliers to find a cost-effective, quality solution for our franchisees
and customers,” the publication quotes her.
Other than the short-term goal for its chicken supply, the
spokeswoman said, “[W]e cannot provide a date when all the work will get done
as the demand is somewhat higher than supply right now.”
McDonald’s, Panera Bread and Wendy's have
announced plans to eliminate antibiotics from their supply chains or have begun
testing antibiotic-free meat for their menus.
As with sow gestation crates, what begins in the United
States is sure to migrate to Canada.
