This 2nd annual Chain Reaction report ranks the top 25 U.S. restaurant chains on their antibiotics policies. Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, driven largely by overuse and misuse of antibiotics. In fact, the United Nations will meet tomorrow to discuss the issue and commit to specific actions. But, political conversations too often focus on identifying ways to reduce overuse of antibiotics in human health. There is significantly less willingness to tackle their overuse in animals raised for food, despite the fact that 80 percent of all antibiotics sold in the U.S. are marketed to animals. That is why activists and consumers have rallied together to engage the restaurant industry and encourage companies to reduce the use of antibiotics in their supply chains.
Companies are responding. Since last year, Subway, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Papa John’s have all announced some commitment to address routine use of antibiotics. A few have even begun putting their new po