(Reuters) — All but five of 25 U.S. fast food and fast-casual chains got “F” grades for their antibiotic policies, according to a report by public interest groups including Friends of the Earth and the National Resources Defense Council. Among them: Starbucks, Subway, Wendy’s and Domino’s Pizza. The companies couldn’t immediately comment because they had not been given the results before publication.
The report said, “Most top U.S. chain restaurants… have so far failed to effectively respond to this growing public health threat by publicly adopting policies restricting routine antibiotic use by their meat suppliers.”
That’s a concern because at least two million people in the U.S. each year get infections that resist antibiotics, and 23,000 people die from them, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Consuming the drug can build up a resistance to antibiotics.
Two chains received “A”s: Chipotle and Panera Bread. Both chains say the majority of their meat and poultry is produced without antibiotics. Chick-fil-A earned a B, and McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts received “C”s. McDonald’s lost points partly because it still uses antibiotics in producing pork and beef.
