Subway Announces Plans to Eliminate Antibiotics Use in U.S. Meat Supplies

Subway Announces Plans to Eliminate Antibiotics Use in U.S. Meat Supplies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kate Kiely, 212-727-4592 or [email protected]

Announcement Follows August Launch of NRDC Campaign

MILFORD, CT (October 20, 2015) – Subway—the world's largest fast food chain—today announced a detailed plan to eliminate antibiotics use in all of its U.S. meat supplies.

The announcement comes after NRDC launched a campaign targeted at the sandwich giant in August—timed with the company's 50th anniversary—to call on Subway to make a commitment to antibiotic stewardship. NRDC and other advocacy groups recently notified the company that they would be delivering nearly 300,000 petitions to its headquarters later this month calling for action on antibiotics.

By committing to eliminate antibiotic use in chicken, turkey, pork and beef, the company has gone beyond McDonald's commitment earlier this year – putting the company on track to match industry leaders like Chipotle.

Ending the routine use of antibiotics in livestock that are not sick will help stop the growth of drug-resistant superbugs.

A statement follows from Lena Brook, Food Policy Advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

"This is a victory for public health—and sandwich lovers everywhere. This commitment from the world's largest fast food chain is a giant step forward in the ongoing effort to get meat raised with routine antibiotics off more plates and menus. Subway should be commended for answering its customers' calls. This is a strong plan that will help the company live up to the healthy image it has long-cultivated."

For more information:
Subway Campaign Website: http://www.nrdc.org/food/subway/default.asp
NRDC's Going Mainstream: Meat and Poultry Raised Without Antibiotics
NRDC's Saving Antibiotics page
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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us atwww.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.