Does McDonald's have antibiotics in their meat? Exploring the Company's Policies

December 8, 2025 •

2 min read

According to its corporate responsibility report, McDonald's has had a long-standing commitment to reducing antibiotic use in its supply chain since 2003, with specific policies now in place for chicken and beef. So, does McDonald's have antibiotics in their meat? The answer is nuanced, depending on the type of meat, the specific market, and the purpose of the antibiotic use.

Quick Summary

McDonald's has implemented policies to eliminate medically important antibiotics for growth promotion and routine prevention in its poultry, and to reduce their use in beef. Strict veterinary oversight is required for treating sick animals.

Key Points

Focused Reduction: McDonald's has eliminated the use of medically important antibiotics for growth promotion and routine prevention, especially in its chicken supply chain.
Therapeutic Use Still Allowed: Antibiotics are still used to treat sick animals in McDonald's supply chains under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian to ensure animal health and welfare.
Variable Policies by Protein and Market: The specific rules and implementation timelines vary depending on whether the meat is chicken or beef and in which country it is sold.
Response to Public Health Concerns: The company's policies are driven by consumer pressure and a broader industry effort to combat antibiotic resistance, a major global health issue.
Third-Party Oversight: McDonald's tracks the use of medically important antibiotics in key markets with third-party verification to ensure suppliers comply with their stated policies.
Promoting Alternatives: The company and its partners are exploring alternatives to routine antibiotic use, such as improved animal husbandry, vaccination, and feed additives.

Understanding the Terminology: Medically Important vs. Non-Medical Antibiotics

Global health organizations like the WHO classify antibiotics based on their importance in human medicine. This helps preserve their effectiveness for human treatments. Medically Important Antibiotics (MIAs) are used in human medicine, with some classified as 'Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials' (HPCIAs). Non-Medically Important Antibiotics, like ionophores, are used only in animals.

Antibiotic use can also be Therapeutic, to treat sick animals, or Non-Therapeutic, for growth promotion or routine prevention. McDonald's policies focus on eliminating the latter while allowing therapeutic use under veterinary guidance.

McDonald's Policies: Chicken and Beef Compared

McDonald's antibiotic policies differ for chicken and beef, varying by market and reflecting diverse regulations and supplier capabilities.

The Chicken Policy: A Global Shift

McDonald's has significantly advanced its chicken supply chain policies. In the U.S., chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine has been sourced since 2015. A global policy was introduced in 2017. Key aspects include eliminating HPCIAs in major markets, prohibiting routine prevention or growth promotion uses, and allowing therapeutic treatment under veterinary guidance. The company tracks medically important antibiotic use in top markets with third-party verification.

The Beef Policy: Reducing and Reporting

In 2018, McDonald's implemented a beef policy in its top 10 sourcing countries aimed at reducing, not eliminating, antibiotic use. This policy emphasizes responsible reduction, prohibits growth promotion and habitual disease prevention (with exceptions for high-risk situations under veterinary guidance).

Comparison of McDonald's Antibiotic Policies

For details on the comparison of McDonald's antibiotic policies for chicken and beef, you can refer to {Link: McDonald's Corporation https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-purpose-and-impact/food-quality-and-sourcing/responsible-antibiotic-use.html}.

Why These Policies are Important

McDonald's policies address the public health threat of antibiotic resistance, driven by the overuse of antibiotics. By limiting non-therapeutic use of medically important antibiotics, McDonald's encourages the agricultural sector towards responsible practices and antibiotic stewardship.

Alternatives to Traditional Antibiotic Use

The agricultural industry is exploring alternatives to routine antibiotic use to maintain animal health. These include improved husbandry, enhanced biosecurity, vaccination programs, and the use of probiotics and feed additives.

Conclusion: What Does This Mean for Consumers?

McDonald's has actively worked to reduce antibiotic use in its meat supply, particularly those crucial to human medicine. Their policies represent a move toward responsible sourcing, but the meat is not entirely "antibiotic-free." Therapeutic use of medically important antibiotics for sick animals under veterinary care is still allowed, as is the use of non-medically important antibiotics like ionophores in some chicken supply chains. These policies aim to balance animal health with public health concerns about antibiotic resistance. {Link: McDonald's corporate website https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-purpose-and-impact/food-quality-and-sourcing/responsible-antibiotic-use.html}.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, McDonald's does not claim that its meat is completely 'antibiotic-free.' The company's policy is to eliminate or significantly reduce the use of medically important antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes, like growth promotion. However, antibiotics can still be used to treat sick animals under veterinary supervision, a practice deemed necessary for animal welfare.

Reducing the use of medically important antibiotics in animals helps preserve their effectiveness for treating human diseases. The overuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is a serious public health threat.

McDonald's policy for chicken, particularly in top markets like the US, involves eliminating medically important antibiotics for growth promotion. The beef policy focuses on reducing the overall use of medically important antibiotics and prohibits their use for growth promotion and habitual disease prevention.

According to scientific literature, while extremely rare, allergic reactions have been reported in individuals with penicillin allergies who consumed meat with illegal (violative) residues. However, legal and responsible antibiotic use with proper withdrawal times is designed to prevent significant residues from reaching the consumer.

In some markets, like the US, McDonald's permits the use of ionophores in its chicken supply. These are a class of antibiotics that are not used in human medicine and are not classified as medically important, so they do not contribute to resistance in humans.

McDonald's works with third-party partners, such as the Food Animal Initiative (FAI), to track the use of medically important antibiotics in the supply chains supporting its top protein markets. This helps them monitor progress towards their reduction goals.

A withdrawal period is the time required after an animal has been treated with an antibiotic before it is allowed to be slaughtered. This ensures that any antibiotic residues have left the animal's system, and the meat is safe for human consumption.