When it comes to poultry industry trends, this much is clear: The cage-free egg came before the antibiotic-free chicken.
But similar to the egg industry's shift toward cage-free housing systems for hens, the movement to rid chickens of antibiotics is quickly gaining traction among the nation's top suppliers. On Friday, Perdue, the country's third-largest chicken producer, announced that two-thirds of its chickens are now raised without antibiotics. Those birds will be processed and marketed under Perdue's "No Antibiotics Ever" label.
For years, health advocates have pressured suppliers to stop using antibiotics that cause chickens to grow plumper faster, warning such practices add to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can be transmitted to humans who eat the meat. Meanwhile, consumers have become increasingly willing to pay more to feel good about the food they buy.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Chicago Tribune