Tim Hortons and Burger King plan to curb antibiotic use in chicken

OAKVILLE, Ont. — Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Tim Hortons and Burger King, has announced a commitment to the responsible use of antibiotics within chicken sourced for its menus.

In an effort to understand the issue of antibiotic resistance, the company collaborated with its suppliers as well as academics, and followed the guidance of the World Health Organization and the United States Food and Drug Administration throughout 2016.

“We believe that it is important to reduce the use of antibiotics important for human medicine in order to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics in both veterinary and human medicine,” the company’s website states. 

“In order for our brands to provide high quality, safe food to our guests, we believe that we have a responsibility to ensure the health and welfare of food animals.”

RBI will aim to eliminate antibiotics deemed as “critically important to human health” by the World Health Organization from its chicken supply chain. The supply change will come into effect this year in the United States and in Canada in 2018. The company says it will work with its supply chain partners to implement and support the changes.

While RBI isn’t committing to completely eliminating antibiotic use, its restaurant brands will require suppliers to solely purchase products from farmers that use antibiotics “in a judicious and responsible manner” when treatment is necessary.

“We recognize that antibiotics play an important and delicate role in animal wellbeing and human health. Antibiotics are sometimes required to control and treat disease to maintain animal health and welfare,” RBI’s website explains.

RBI notes all of its suppliers are required by law to adhere to legislated antibiotic withdrawal times — a practice that ensures medications have cleared each animal’s system before entering the food chain.

RBI has also committed to transitioning to 100 per cent cage-free eggs at all of its North American restaurants by 2025.

As well, the company plans to improve the welfare of sows by sourcing pork products from suppliers that do not use gestation stalls.

RELATED: Burger King buys Tim Hortons in $12.5B deal

RELATED: Executives depart Tim Hortons