050128 UCS Applauds McDonald's for Steps to Protect Public Health

Washington - The New York Times reported that McDonald's has taken important steps towards implementing its 2003 policy promising to reduce the use of antibiotics among its suppliers. While looking forward to more information on the program, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) applauds McDonald's for its efforts to implement the pioneering policy.

According to the New York Times, McDonald's poultry suppliers in the US and Europe no longer use antibiotics important for human medicine as growth promoters. In addition, these suppliers must report on an annual basis what antibiotics are being used.

"McDonald's has taken the lead among fast-food companies in protecting human health by reducing antibiotic use in animal agriculture," said Dr. Margaret Mellon, Director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "We're especially impressed that McDonalds appears to have required suppliers to monitor and report on their antibiotic usage. Information on antibiotic use will help the company push for further reductions."

While the ban on growth promoters is an important first step, it is only one part of the policy, which also requires direct suppliers to adhere to guiding principles, for example, to treat only ill animals or animals at risk of a specific disease. "These broad principles are integral to sustainable use reduction. Now we hope to see evidence that direct suppliers are implementing them as well as the growth promotion ban," Mellon said. In addition, McDonald's has promised to give purchase preferences to pork and beef.

UCS today sent letters to Burger King, Wendy's, and other fast-food companies, urging them to adopt and implement a policy at least as strong as McDonald's Global Policy. "McDonald's has blazed the trail and other fast-food companies interested in public health should follow," Mellon said.

UCS is a nonprofit partnership of scientists and citizens combining rigorous scientific analysis, innovative policy development, and effective citizen advocacy to achieve practical environmental solutions. UCS's Food and Environment Program seeks to ensure that all people have food that is produced in a safe and sustainable manner. We are dedicated to phasing out the routine, nontherapeutic use of medically important antibiotics in livestock and poultry.

Maryland Governor Renews Poultry Health Indemnity Agreement

Annapolis, MD - Governor Robert Ehrlich on Friday renewed an agreement that spells out how payment of expenses associated with the response to a poultry disease outbreak will be handled.

The agreement, known as a memorandum of understanding, reaffirms the state's commitment to the security of its poultry businesses and overall farming economy, according to the governor's press office.

"This agreement provides the confidence needed for a prompt and effective response to a poultry disease outbreak and would help the industry recover in the event of a catastrophic incident," said Governor Ehrlich. "Last year, a potentially devastating avian influenza situation on the Delmarva Peninsula was stopped in its tracks by an extremely effective and coordinated response. We know if such a response is needed in the future, it will be handled equally as efficiently."

The agreement provides a three-stage process to cover the cost of controlling poultry disease outbreak on Delmarva. The State would only be involved in a catastrophic situation. Private industry, coordinated through the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., (DPI) would cover nearly $3 million in expenses first:

1. Each poultry company will cover costs related to its own flocks up to $100,000 per year; if this is exceeded, stage two applies;

2. A $2.5 million fund established by the companies will be used to cover costs; if this is exceeded, stage three applies;

3. Up to $5 million from the State of Maryland will be used to indemnify poultry owners for poultry in Maryland ordered destroyed by the state veterinarian.

The agreement, originally signed by Governor William Donald Schaefer in 1995, was part of emergency response planning that grew out of a devastating 1983-84 avian influenza in Pennsylvania that threatened the Maryland poultry industry and a 1993 incidence of avian influenza on a single game-bird farm in Queen Anne's County.

In the nearly 10 years that the agreement has been in affect, the state funding has never been tapped.

Poultry in Maryland accounted for $495 million or 34 percent of the State's $1.5 billion agriculture industry in 2003, the last year for which there are statistics. In addition, 60 percent or more of the State's cropland is dedicated to grains for poultry feed, generating another $173 million in farm income. There are approximately 1,683 poultry farms in Maryland.

Across Delmarva, 16,000 people make about $500 million in labor income from the poultry industry.

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