Does Chick-fil-A Chicken Have Antibiotics or Hormones?

December 28, 2025 •

2 min read

As of Spring 2024, Chick-fil-A shifted its chicken policy regarding antibiotics, moving from "No Antibiotics Ever" (NAE) to "No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine" (NAIHM). This change addresses the question: Does Chick-fil-A chicken have antibiotics or hormones? The company maintains its commitment to not using hormones or steroids in its poultry, in compliance with federal regulations.

Quick Summary

Chick-fil-A's chicken is raised with antibiotics that are not important to human medicine (NAIHM), a shift from their previous 'No Antibiotics Ever' policy. Federal law prohibits added hormones or steroids in any US poultry production. The change was made to ensure a stable supply of high-quality chicken while prioritizing animal health.

Key Points

No Added Hormones or Steroids: By federal law, no artificial hormones or steroids are permitted in US poultry production, and Chick-fil-A adheres to this regulation.
Shift in Antibiotic Policy: In Spring 2024, Chick-fil-A transitioned from a 'No Antibiotics Ever' (NAE) policy to 'No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine' (NAIHM).
Allows Limited Antibiotic Use: The NAIHM policy permits the use of animal-specific antibiotics only to treat sick birds, not for growth promotion.
Maintains Supply Chain: The policy change was necessary to ensure a consistent and reliable supply of high-quality chicken.
Animal Wellbeing Commitment: Chick-fil-A continues to maintain strict animal welfare standards, with third-party audits confirming compliance.
USDA Verification: The USDA audits and verifies that any antibiotics used are cleared from the chicken's system before processing.

Understanding Chick-fil-A's Chicken Sourcing Policy

Chick-fil-A has a reputation for quality, which includes its approach to sourcing chicken. For ten years, they followed a "No Antibiotics Ever" (NAE) policy. However, in Spring 2024, they changed to "No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine" (NAIHM). This means some antibiotics are allowed, but only those not critical for human treatment. This decision was made to ensure a consistent supply of quality chicken, a challenge for producers.

The Shift from NAE to NAIHM

The move to NAIHM aligns with industry trends balancing animal welfare and supply. NAIHM allows treating sick chickens with animal-specific antibiotics, a change from the stricter NAE rule that banned all antibiotics for a chicken's life. This shift, seen in companies like Tyson Foods, offers flexibility in managing animal health. Chick-fil-A stated this was needed to ensure their high-quality chicken supply.

What About Hormones and Steroids?

Federal law prohibits added hormones or steroids in all US poultry. Chick-fil-A confirms its chicken has no fillers, added hormones, or steroids, aligning with this law. This fact is unchanged by the antibiotic policy shift. Chick-fil-A focuses on real breast meat and animal wellbeing, including climate-controlled barns and access to feed and water.

Comparison of Chick-fil-A's Previous and Current Antibiotic Policies


Feature	Former NAE Policy (Pre-Spring 2024)	Current NAIHM Policy (Post-Spring 2024)
Antibiotic Use	No antibiotics of any kind were used.	Allows antibiotics not important to human medicine.
Purpose of Use	No use for treatment, prevention, or growth promotion.	Used only to treat sick chickens.
Human Health Concern	Less risk of contributing to antimicrobial resistance in humans.	Potential for antibiotic resistance, though not from human-critical drugs.
Supply Impact	Faced challenges in maintaining a stable supply.	Offers greater flexibility in sourcing chicken.
Commitment	Adhered to a 10-year promise of “No Antibiotics Ever”.	Continues commitment to animal wellbeing.

Implications of the NAIHM Policy

The NAIHM shift has raised questions about antibiotic resistance. While less strict than NAE, NAIHM is still stricter than traditional poultry that may use antibiotics for growth promotion. Used antibiotics must be cleared from the chicken's system before processing, as verified by the USDA. Chick-fil-A's Animal Wellbeing Council provides oversight.

Transparency and Animal Welfare

Chick-fil-A states its commitment to animal welfare remains high. Supplier standards include climate-controlled barns and access to feed and water. Regular audits and third-party verification ensure standards are met. This aims to assure consumers of the continued quality and care of their chicken. The company believes that treating sick animals is humane.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Chick-fil-A's chicken contains no added hormones or steroids, as prohibited by federal law for all US poultry. The antibiotic policy changed in Spring 2024 from NAE to NAIHM. This permits using some antibiotics for sick animals, but not those important for human medicine. This shift was to ensure a stable supply of quality chicken. While not 100% antibiotic-free anymore, the chicken still meets a standard prioritizing animal welfare and human health by avoiding medically important antibiotics.

Frequently Asked Questions

NAE, or 'No Antibiotics Ever,' meant that chickens were never given antibiotics. NAIHM, or 'No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine,' means chickens can be treated with animal-specific antibiotics if they get sick, but not with those important for human medical treatment.

Chick-fil-A changed its policy in Spring 2024 to maintain a consistent, high-quality supply of chicken. The NAE standard became difficult to uphold amidst various industry challenges, leading the company to adopt the more flexible NAIHM standard.

No, it is illegal in the United States to use artificial or added hormones or steroids in poultry production. This is a federal law, so no chicken, regardless of the brand, has added hormones.

Yes. Any antibiotics used on the chickens must be cleared from their systems before the meat is processed, per FDA requirements. The NAIHM policy also specifically restricts antibiotics that are important to human medicine.

No, Chick-fil-A explicitly states that it uses 100% real, whole, boneless breast meat with no fillers, artificial preservatives, or added steroids or hormones.

Chick-fil-A sources chicken from US farms that adhere to its Animal Wellbeing Standards, which include raising birds in climate-controlled barns with ample access to food and water. The company also performs regular third-party audits to verify compliance.

Yes, several other major food producers and restaurant chains, including Tyson Foods and Panera Bread, have also adjusted their antibiotic policies, citing similar supply concerns and industry learnings.