In many parts of the world the cultivation of animal
proteins for human consumption increasingly relies
on the routine use of antibiotics in the rearing,
feeding, and daily care of livestock. This and other
modern animal husbandry practices drive increasing
antibiotic use and contributes to the growing
problem of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic
resistance is particularly concerning when
resistance occurs with antibiotics that are
important to human medicine. As a major global buyer
of animal proteins, RBI has a responsibility to
ensure that its business practices to not contribute
to or exacerbate the problem of antibiotic
resistance.
RBI acknowledges that we have an important role to
play in preventing disease resistance and in
preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics. We also
recognize that antibiotics are required to treat
disease to maintain animal health and welfare, thus
in keeping with responsible animal welfare
practices, antibiotics use must never be withheld if
it will jeopardize an animal’s wellbeing.
We continue to collaborate with suppliers and
academics, as well as closely monitor the guidance
of external experts such as the World Health
Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, with respect to the matter of
antibiotic resistance.
We expect our approved suppliers to purchase
products only from farmers that administer
antibiotics in a judicious and responsible manner
when treatment is necessary, in keeping with
veterinary and regulatory requirements. Treatment of
animals with antibiotics must be in full compliance
with all applicable requirements and under the
supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Antibiotics
may not be used for growth-promotion purposes (i.e.,
feed efficiency, weight gain, etc.) and any unused
antibiotics must be disposed of properly.
Tim Hortons in Canada and Burger King in the US only
source chicken raised without antibiotics important
to human medicine*. As applicable, approved
suppliers must provide and maintain, on record, an
annual letter of guarantee from each of their raw
material suppliers as supporting documentation for
monitoring of compliance.
The Popeyes brand is working towards eliminating
antibiotics important to human medicine* from their
chicken supply chain for the US market by end of
2021.
In 2020 we engaged industry experts and suppliers to
expand our policy related to antibiotics use in beef
cattle and dairy cows. Our next step is to develop a
strategy and timeline for implementation. By
expanding this policy, our goal is to measure and
understand the current use of antibiotics in the
beef supply chain of each brand, and implement
targets to reduce the use of antibiotics important
to human medicine* in our supply chain and to end
animal care practises that lead to their overuse.
We will work closely with our supply chain vendors
and franchisees to implement these changes and
continue to identify opportunities to monitor and
limit the use
of medically important antibiotics in our other
land-based proteins. All our approved protein
suppliers are currently required by applicable law
to adhere to legislated antibiotic withdrawal times.
These practices ensure that all antibiotics have
cleared each animal’s system before it enters the
food supply.
*As defined by the World Health Organization in
Critically Important Antimicrobials for Human
Medicine 6th Revision 2018.