Tyson Responds to Misleading Story on Chicken Production

A recent article published on-line by Natural News gives a misleading impression of Tyson chicken production.



Tyson did initiate a Raised Without Antibiotics chicken program in 2007, and did so with what we believed were the appropriate government approvals. However, political pressure and legal action from competitors led to uncertainty and controversy over product labeling regulations and advertising claims. As a result, our company voluntarily chose to discontinue the program in the summer of 2008.



Contrary to the Natural News report, there is no pending litigation by our company against USDA and our company is no longer producing chicken under a Raised Without Antibiotics label.



Like most companies in the poultry industry, including some involved organic chicken production, we vaccinate eggs before the birds hatch in order to prevent a virus known as Marek’s disease. A small amount of antibiotic is included in the vaccine to prevent cross-contamination between eggs during the vaccination process. According to USDA standards, chickens from eggs vaccinated in this manner can still qualify as organic, which is considered the gold standard for raising claims.



Any use of antibiotics in our chicken production is under direction of a veterinarian.