An Associated Press story, printed in the Sun Journal July 31, emphasizes the struggles McDonald’s has to keep its signature burger, the Big Mac, relevant.
McDonald’s recently launched an initiative to use its size and scale for good. Why shouldn’t it use its Big Mac to do the same? The burger could become a significant player in the fight against a major public health threat — antibiotic resistant bacteria. Overusing antibiotics on industrial farms contributes to the spread of dangerous bacteria that can infect people with life-threatening illness.
In 2016, the Golden Arches moved its chicken suppliers away from the use of medically important antibiotics. Yet, despite the progress on chicken, McDonald’s continues to source beef from producers that raise animals with routine antibiotic use.
With conscious consumers hungry to know how their food was raised and where it came from, switching to beef raised without routine antibiotic use could help reignite America’s love for the Big Mac. Much more importantly, it would help preserve life-saving antibiotics.
Katie Kelley, Lewiston
Send questions/comments to the editors.
