071257 Tyson Rewrites “No-Antibiotics” Label For Chicken

Springdale, Ark. - Tyson Foods, Inc. Thursday said consumers will start seeing more descriptive language on its packages of chicken regarding the use of antibiotics after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said its previous label had been “mistakenly approved” by the government.

The Springdale, Ark.-based meat giant said product labels for its Raised Without Antibiotics chicken program will read: “Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics that impact antibiotic resistance in humans.”¯ Tyson began seeking modified wording in November after the USDA notified it that its original label had been “mistakenly approved”¯ by the government since the company uses ionophores as an ingredient in its chicken feed, the company said. Tyson's practice of using ionophores was noted in its original label application, which was approved by USDA in May. However, USDA officials subsequently withdrew their approval of the label last month, telling Tyson they consider ionophores a form of antibiotics.

Tyson currently plans to continue using ionophores, which are used to fight intestinal illness in chickens. The new labeling language will be phased in on its packages over the next several months, Tyson said. “We once again turned to consumers for their guidance and they told us this label more clearly conveys our chickens are not raised with any feed ingredients that could contribute to antibiotic resistance in humans," said Dave Hogberg, senior vice president of Consumer Products Marketing for Tyson Foods.

"We applaud Tyson for working with USDA to find a more meaningful way to explain the public health value of not using drugs that contribute to increased antibiotic resistance," said Carol Tucker Foreman, distinguished fellow at Consumer Federation of America's Food Policy Institute and former assistant Secretary of Agriculture. "We're especially pleased the company and the government chose a new label that research showed was understood by most consumers."

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