Tyson Foods announced that in response to consumer demand its fresh chickens would be raised without antibiotics as another step in preserving the effectiveness of critical life-saving medicines.

“It’s big news when the largest chicken producer in the country uses an antibiotic-free label to gain a competitive advantage,” said David Wallinga, M.D., director of the Food and Health Program at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and a member of the Keep Antibiotics Working coalition (KAW). “What’s good for public health is also good business. Tyson should be applauded for taking this great step forward.”