CSE lauds Jubilant FoodWorks says NO to antibiotic misuse in chicken

NEW DELHI, 18 November 2017 :  Just a few days after a study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which exposed the double standards by fast food multinationals, there is good news on the horizon. Jubilant FoodWorks Limited − which manages Domino’s Pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts in India − made public its newly developed policy, ‘Usage of Antibiotics in Poultry Birds’ Health Management’. The policy focuses on eliminating antibiotic misuse in their chicken supply chain in a phased manner.

“We are delighted to know that Jubiliant has promptly come forward and committed to stopping antibiotic misuse in chicken. We encourage other fast food multinationals to follow suit and show that they care about the Indian consumer and are keen to no longer contribute to rising antibiotic resistance,” Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, CSE said.

Earlier this week, CSE had released its report ‘Double Standards’, which revealed that fast food multinational companies do not have any India-specific commitments to eliminate misuse of antibiotics in their meat supply chains. In contrast, these global giants have made ambitious, specific and time-bound commitments in the US and other countries to eliminate antibiotic misuse, owing to growing pressure from regulators and other stakeholders.

Addressing the concerns raised by CSE, the policy by Jubiliant FoodWorks aims to eliminate non-therapeutic use of antibiotics – i.e. use as a growth promoter and for disease prevention – by 2018 as well as use of highest priority critically important antimicrobials (defined by the World Health Organization) by 2019.

“This commitment by a fast food major shows that stopping antibiotic misuse is not difficult. It is very much achievable in a short span of time, particularly by big multinationals as they know how to do it from their experience in other countries,” said Amit Khurana, senior programme manager, Food Safety and Toxins unit, CSE.

CSE press release of Nov 13, 2017, CSE report - ‘Double Standards’ & Policy by Jubiliant  FoodWorks Limited 

Image Credit: Change.org