A recent article in Consumer Reports On Health caught my eye after I got my wife an Arby’s beef sandwich. If you’re a fan of fast food and chain restaurants, this should be of interest to you, and you may want to make a change to where you’re eating.
The sixth Chain Reaction report, which scores the top 20 fast-food and fast-casual chain restaurants on their antibiotic policies, and what they’ve done to ensure that the beef they used hasn’t been raised using antibiotics. Chain Reaction report is a project from six consumer groups, including Consumer Reports.
Antibiotics given to a sick cow is usually necessary, but the drugs are given indiscriminately to many cows, regardless of health status. One reason; The antibiotics increase the weight of the animal. When humans eat these animals, they also eat the antibiotics. Using antibiotics unnecessarily leads to bacteria that are impervious to the drugs, and the CDC says 35,000 people die each year from antibiotic-resistant infections.
Earlier Chain Reaction reports focussed on chicken, and most restaurants have made significant positive changes to their antibiotic use policies.
But this report found that little has changed when it comes to beef. Twelve chains received F’s: Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Burger King, Dairy Quenn, Domino’s Pizza, Jack in the Box, Little Caesars, Olive Garden, Panda Express, Pizza Hut, Sonic, and Starbucks.
Applebees, IHOP, and Taco Bell received D’s, and Wendy’s McDonalds, and Subway got C’s.
Chipolte received an A, Panera an A-.
Like I said, you may want to reconsider where you eat.
The full Chain Reaction report can be read at CR.org/chain6.
Stay well,
John R Blilie, MS, OSC