June 5, 2008

USDA finds human antibiotic in Tyson chickens
    

An antibiotic used on humans has been routinely found in Tyson Foods' chickens by inspectors, USDA said.

Tyson had treated its poultry with gentamicin, an antibiotic that has been used in the US for more than 30 years to treat a variety of infections in humans, according to a statement from Richard Raymond, an undersecretary for food safety at the USDA.

Tyson was ordered by the federal court to remove its "raised without antibiotics" ads and labelling, despite the fact that it had been approved by the USDA. Tyson's chicken feed contains ionophores, an antibiotic not used on humans therefore is of no health concern. The ruling has led to Tyson requesting the USDA to provide more clarity and consistency to labelling and advertising rules on antibiotic claims.

However, USDA spokeswoman Amanda Eamich said Tyson's use of the antibiotic was not disclosed to the agency. USDA had sent a letter on Monday (June 2, 2008) to Tyson, warning that it could not consider its no-antibiotics label as truthful and accurate, Eamich said.

USDA on Tuesday (June 3, 2008) issued a statement rescinding a remark from Raymond that use of gentamicin is of public health concern. Tyson Foods vice president Archie Schaffer said the statement is erroneous and that the majority of the industry does the same thing as Tyson.

Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said the company used gentamicin during egg vaccinations, before the birth of a chicken. Mickelson added that the vaccinations are a standard practise, as rules on labels describing how birds are "raised" typically start from the second day of life.