We all want to eat clean and keep ourselves healthy while caring for the environment. Unfortunately, that usually means we have to make all of our meals from scratch, as that’s the only way to be sure of what’s in our food. There’s no need to be so strict, though. If you are running late or you are just really tired, popping by the nearby fast-food place is understandable, as long as that’s not your every day diet. And some restaurants are better at the “clean food” than others. Antibiotic use is one of the most pressing issues when it comes to food production, as widespread use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance (or “superbugs”, as the media loves to call it), which poses great health risks for humans. Just in case, here are your favorite restaurants ranked for their antibiotic use.
Chipotle – Delicious, filling, delicious… who doesn’t indulge in Chipotle once in a while? Perfect for lunch or a late-night snack run, Chipotle is always there for you and your spicy food needs. It also has the best practices when it comes to antibiotics. It has publicly stated that most of their meat and poultry is produced with no routine use of antibiotics, so munch away.
Panera – Soups, salads and amazing sandwiches, Panera is a favorite for work lunch and maybe a cup of coffee with a croissant. They rank this high on the list because they have publicly affirmed that the majority of their meat and poultry is produced without routine use of antibiotics, so you can continue to enjoy their fantastic, if slightly overpriced sandwiches, knowing they are antibiotic-free.
McDonald’s – The old Mickey D’s already has a policy in place that limits the use of antibiotics on its chicken, and it has implemented a timeline to get completely rid of antibiotics in chicken in the next two years. However, this policy does not extend to beef and pork that are also served in the restaurant. Investors are pressing down on Ronald McDonald to fix that, so it’s possible that we’ll see a new policy covering pork and beef in the future.
Chick-fil-A – The fast food chain has a policy that limits the use of antibiotics in all its chicken. Which is a good thing, since that’s their main appeal. They have pledged to be completely antibiotic-free by 2019 and are taking action to meet the goal.
Dunkin’ Donuts – They rank pretty low on the list because, even though they have a policy to limit antibiotic use in their meats, they do not have a clear timeline to implement it. For now, you’ll probably want to stick to their coffee and donuts.
Starbucks – While the chain has made several statements supporting the “responsible use of antibiotics”, they have failed to implement a clear policy to eliminate antibiotics from their meats.