Cargill Turkey says “no” to growth-promoting antibiotics

Cargill’s Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms are now the first major turkey brands in the U.S. to remove growth-promoting antibiotics from all turkeys across the independent farms they work with, without charging a premium price. Based on consumer research and feedback, these brands are pioneering efforts to provide families with new, affordable, turkey choices.

Cargill worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a three-part verification process for turkey production that exceeds all current government and industry standards:

• All turkeys are raised by independent farmers
• Producers are trained on proper animal handling practices
• No antibiotics are used for growth promotion (antibiotics only used for treatment of illness and disease prevention)

Cargill’s initiative to remove growth-promoting antibiotics was reinforced last December when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a three-year plan to phase out the use of antibiotics that are medically important in human health and are also used to improve growth or feed efficiency in livestock and poultry.

“Fresh, whole turkeys raised without growth-promoting antibiotics will be available this Thanksgiving under Cargill’s signature brand labels, Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms,” said Ruth Kimmelshue, president of the Cargill Turkey & Cooked Meats business in a release. “All Cargill turkey flocks will be free of growth-promoting antibiotics by the end of 2015.”

The company’s farmer partners have been trained on industry leading animal handling practices established by the National Turkey Federation, which enables handlers to provide the best care for the animals. Cargill said in the release that the health and wellness of animals is of utmost importance to the company, and antibiotics will still be administered under the supervision of a veterinarian to treat and prevent disease.