The fast food chain, McDonald’s, is being put under intense lobbying pressure to “stop the routine use of antibiotics” across the company’s global livestock supply chains.
This is the line used by the charity ShareAction, whose declared aim is to promote “responsible investment” and which has now launched an online call for people to email Steve Easterbrook, the CEO of McDonald’s Corporation.
“Around 70% of all antibiotics used in the US and half of those used in the UK are given to livestock,” said ShareAction, claiming that this is a practice which the UK government recently described as “excessive and inappropriate”.
The group also said that while McDonald’s has initially set “promising targets” addressing, to varying degrees, antibiotic over-use in American and European poultry supply chains, but had yet to tackle use in beef, pork or dairy supply chains.
“Investors are right to express their concern directly to the board of McDonald’s,” said ShareAction chief executive, Catherine Howarth. “We hope this action will encourage McDonald’s to supersize their ambition; now is the time for action.”