Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN) will be using certain antibiotics again in its chicken supply chain and will no longer use the "no antibiotics ever" label on their Tyson-branded chicken products, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
In a statement made to the WSJ, the company reportedly said the move would involve drugs that are not important to human health and will apply to its fresh, frozen, and ready-made products under the Tyson brand. The measure is set to take effect by the end of the calendar year.
According to the publication, Tyson will be adding a type of antibiotic called ionophores to their chickens' feed, which is used to control coccidiosis, a disease commonly found in poultry. The antibiotic is not deemed medically important for human treatment by the World Health Organization. As a result, the affected products will no longer carry the "No Antibiotics Ever" label.
A Tyson spokesman told the WSJ that they base their "decisions on sound science and an evolving understanding of the best practices impacting our customers, consumers and the animals in our care.”