Chick-fil-A Is Moving on From Antibiotic-Free Chickens This Spring

By John Lopez

Mar 24, 2024 10:45 AM EDT

Chick-fil-A announced plans to transition away from antibiotic-free chickens starting this spring, citing supply chain reasons.

The shift means moving from their No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) policy to the No Antibiotics Important To Human Medicine (NAIHM) policy.

Chick-fil-A Is Shifting Away from Antibiotic-Free Chickens

The decision is a departure from Chick-fil-A's long-standing compliance to antibiotic-free poultry. Previously, the fast-food chain had successfully adopted antibiotic-free chicken in 2014, ultimately achieving its goal of serving antibiotic-free chicken across all its restaurants by 2019, Fox Business notes.

The shift is explained by the need to ensure a consistent supply of high-quality chicken while meeting the expectations of its customer base. In its announcement, Chick-fil-A reassured its patrons that despite the change, its dedication to serving top-tier food remains unwavering.

What Is NAIHM?

NAIHM guidelines restrict antibiotics crucial to human medicine, permitting their use only in cases where animals require treatment due to illness. This approach aims to balance maintaining animal welfare standards and meeting consumer demand for responsibly sourced products.

Chick-fil-A's move follows similar shifts by other major players like Panera Bread, which recently adjusted its antibiotic-free policy for pork and turkey products due to similar supply chain constraints.

Additionally, Tyson Foods, a prominent poultry supplier, announced last summer its reintroduction of certain antibiotics into its chicken supply chain after several years of antibiotic-free production.

While Chick-fil-A has not disclosed a specific deadline for the transition, the company remains committed to providing transparency about its sourcing practices.

What's Next?

Chick-fil-A also vowed to serve "only real, white breast meat with no added fillers, artificial preservatives, or steroids." Contrary to conspiracy theories, Chick-fil-A's chicken meat has no added hormones.

"We source our chicken from farms in the U.S., in accordance with our Animal Wellbeing Standards. Our standards are rooted in the internationally recognized Five Freedoms," Chick-fil-A added.

Chick-fil-A customers may expect changes in their chicken sourcing processes as the firm transitions to its new approach in the coming months.