Tyson still committed to no-antibiotics chicken

Arkansas Business, Nov 26, 2007 by John Henry

After months of discussion with the U.S. Agriculture Department over the labeling of its fresh chickens as "raised without antibiotics," the federal agency said Tyson Foods Inc. must change the labels.

But Tyson said it stands by the truthfulness of its labels and remains committed to its Raised Without Antibiotics chicken program.

Last May, USDA officials approved Tyson's labeling proposals for Raised Without Antibiotics chicken and were aware of the company's use of ionophores as a chicken feed ingredient.

In early September, however, the USDA reversed its position and gave Tyson the option of removing the "Raised Without Antibiotics" claim, a change in its feed formulation or the submission of a new label application.

Tyson Foods has submitted modified labeling for approval. The additional wording states no ingredients have been used that could create antibiotic resistance in humans, which is the major reason for concern about antibiotics in poultry production.

The giant food processor said it does not believe ionophores are antibiotics. The Food & Drug Administration specifically excludes ionophores from the list of animal drugs deemed antibiotics.

"Ionophores are recognized and approved by the federal government as a safe feed ingredient," a Tyson news release said. "They're permitted in chicken feed as a preventive measure against coccidiosis, an intestinal illness, and are in a different class than antibiotics.

"Ionophores are not used in human medicine and do not contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance to important human drugs. They remain in the intestinal tract of the animal and do not carry over into the meat consumed by humans."

Tyson launched a $70 million marketing campaign in June to promote the news that its fresh chicken would no longer use antibiotics.