This article was submitted for the July / August 2006 issue of the newsletter.
Keep Antibiotics Working: Wendy’s
Campaign
By , Ohio Outreach Specialist, Keep AntibioticsWorking
The vast majority of antibiotics produced in the United
States are fed to animals being raised for food. Most of
these antibiotics are used to accelerate growth and
prevent diseases caused by overcrowded and unsanitary
“factory farm” conditions.
The consequences of this antibiotic misuse on human
health are serious. The more these drugs are used, the
faster the bugs they are intended to kill develop
resistance. Antibiotic resistance means that doctors
must prescribe more than one course of treatment before
finding a drug that works—often resorting to drugs that
are more costly and carry more serious side effects.
Increasingly, even these more powerful drugs are
failing.
Fast-food chains like Wendy’s are among the meat
industry’s biggest customers and hold enormous sway over
meat industry practices. Keep Antibiotics Working: The
Campaign to End Antibiotic Overuse is a consumer
advocacy coalition that has asked Wendy’s to stop buying
meat from producers that misuse antibiotics on animals
that are not sick. This coalition of health, consumer,
agricultural, environmental, humane and other advocacy
groups has also encouraged Wendy’s to institute a system
of accountability that will ensure its suppliers are in
compliance with this policy. So far, Wendy’s has not
responded to these requests.
Over two years ago, McDonald’s created an antibiotics
policy that gave preference to meat raised without
unnecessary antibiotics and created a system to track
compliance. Other private companies have followed suit.
As the country’s third-largest fast-food company, it’s
time for Wendy’s to not only “Do What Tastes Right”—they
should do what is right for the health of their
customers.
What You Can Do
Write fast-food giant Wendy’s International and ask
them to stop buying meat from producers who use
antibiotics on animals that are not sick. Encourage them
to establish a tracking system to make sure their
producers comply with this policy. Keep Antibiotics
Working staff will be collecting these letters and
delivering them to Wendy’s on your behalf.
Send letters to:
Ms. Kerri Anderson, Chief Executive Officer,
President and Director
Wendy’s International, c/o Keep Antibiotics Working
1207 Grandview Ave., Suite 201
Columbus, OH 43212
For questions or more information please contact
.
The vast majority of antibiotics produced in the
United States are fed to animals being raised for
food. Most of these antibiotics are used to accelerate
growth and prevent diseases caused by overcrowded and
unsanitary “factory farm” conditions.
The consequences of this antibiotic misuse on human
health are serious. The more these drugs are used, the
faster the bugs they are intended to kill develop
resistance.
