In 2016, Wendy’s set a long-term goal to phase out the routine use of medically important antibiotics within our protein supply chain. Since then, we have been working alongside our Wendy’s Animal Welfare Council and supplier partners to find ways to reduce antibiotic use while still allowing for the treatment of animals when they get sick.
This work, combined with our efforts to build greater traceability into our supply chains through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program, has allowed us to set key milestones:
Through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program, we will map and report on the use of medically important antibiotics and will set targets and strategies to reduce the use of those antibiotics over time within our beef and pork supply chains in the U.S. and Canada. This will build on our work to date with progressive producers in our beef and pork supply chains who are helping us find ways to reduce antibiotic use through pilot programs and researching antibiotic alternatives, like probiotics, improved animal management practices, vaccines and more.
Our goal is that 100% of our U.S. and Canadian beef, chicken and pork will be sourced from suppliers that prohibit the routine use of medically important antibiotics.
Antibiotic Reduction Progress
Since 2016, we’ve been working closely with progressive suppliers to find meaningful ways to map and reduce the use of medically important antibiotics within our beef, pork and chicken supply chains.
Reducing Antibiotic Use in Beef
As part of our commitment to gauge the use of antibiotics within our beef supply chain and to reduce it meaningfully over time, Wendy’s has engaged with a consortium of beef producers since 2017 on this topic. Since 2020, nearly a third of Wendy’s beef supply came from producers who have made a science-based commitment to at least a 20% reduction in the use of tylosin, the most common medically important antibiotic used in fed cattle.
Learn More About Our Beef Supply >
Reducing Antibiotic Use in Pork
Wendy’s pork supplier partners have taken steps to protect the efficacy of antibiotics deemed important to humans by abiding by and following the Pork Quality Assurance® Plus program.
Further, we are working with progressive suppliers to map, monitor and report on animal medical treatment histories through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program in support of our 2030 goal to eliminate the routine use of medically important antibiotics.
Learn More About Our Pork Supply >
Reducing Antibiotic Use in Chicken
We have eliminated all antibiotics important to human medicine from our chicken supply in the U.S., which is Process Verified through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure compliance.
Wendy’s has long believed that achieving greater supply chain visibility is key to meaningfully reducing antiobiotic use within our supply chain.
We aim to increase visibility beyond our direct suppliers to their suppliers who are responsible for animal care and handling. By implementing the Animal Care Standards Program and working with progressive suppliers, we are beginning to gain a better sense of the scope of antibiotic use within our supply chain. We believe a greater understanding of that scope will ultimately support our efforts to establish baselines that will help us set strategies to achieve our 2030 goal.