Posted on 06/20/2007 6:36:46 PM PDT by neverdem
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- NEW YORK Tyson Foods will no longer use antibiotics to raise chicken that is sold fresh in stores and will launch a $70 million advertising campaign to tout the shift, the nation's largest meat producer said Tuesday.
The company said fresh chicken raised without antibiotics was shipped to stores Monday and will be sold beginning later this week in packaging that emphasizes that there are no artificial ingredients.
"We're providing mainstream consumers with products they want," Tyson Chief Executive Richard L. Bond said at a news conference.
Consumers will have to pay slightly more for the privilege. Tyson Senior Vice President Dave Hogberg declined to specify how much, but said it would be "below the cost consumers say they're willing to pay."
He added competitors charge about $1.50 to $2 per pound more for boneless, skinless chicken breast without antibiotics. The price increase for Tyson's antibiotic-free chicken would be less than $1 per pound.
Hogberg said Tyson is converting 20 — or slightly less than half — of its production facilities to produce the products. He declined to specify how much the move is costing the company. Bond, however, said the switch would not affect the company's earnings short-term.
Instead, he said earnings and sales would benefit from the move since it could increase demand for chicken and potentially generate additional sales on other Tyson products.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
Good move, as long as the price is right.
But will they use Chinese feed for the birds?
I may be sorry I asked, but why did they need to use antibiotics in the first place?
When are they going to stop selling food processed by their illegal employee base?
Succumbing to the wishes of the bulk of their non-citizen workforce, which has complained about the chicken enchiladas, Tyson has decided to change its production methods.
there's still a lot of unsavory stuff that they still call "natural" - I'll want ALL ingredients that aren't just chicken listed...
Must be causing the illegals to have a rash.
This is not a good thing. Now we get to eat diseased chickens. They will almost be as bad as free range chickens. Another company caves to political correctness.
It could work or it could backfire and end up costing a lot more than they think considering how many chicken farms are under contract to Tyson.
First off I don't believe they are telling the truth! It probably depend on your definition of is.
But you use antibiotics to keep the thing from getting sick. The same reason you take them.
Money grab,,,take something out then charge more...
Just a few less needles the birds get while hanging on the conveyor line.
An if its a KFC run,,, well.. not all of those secret spices are in the coating. :-)
You’re right. Political correctness will accomplish what the environmentalists want, eventual starvation and fewer people ruining the planet. It will begin with people paying a whole lot more for food and it will end with a shortage of food. It may not happen this genaration but it will happen.
On the Horizon, Personalized Depression Drugs
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
and they stop hiring illegal alien help.
As a general rule, I did not say that. People take antibiotics as a treatment. That is what you give the stuff to animals for as a treatment, but sometimes it is used as a preventive.
The common product is Agrimycin and terramycin, but there are others.
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