Wal-Mart Encourages Meat Suppliers to Curb Antibiotic Use

By Sarah Nassauer 

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is asking its meat suppliers to curb their use of antibiotics and offer animals more humane living conditions, inching into a tricky supply issue as Americans press for higher standards for what they eat.

The world's largest retailer is asking farmers who grow beef, chicken, pork other animals to limit their use of antibiotics to sick animals, and to never use medically important antibiotics preventively or to promote animal growth, according to a release.

In addition, the company is asking suppliers to raise animals with sufficient space for them to express "normal behaviors" and "freedom from discomfort," among other animal welfare measures.

The new guidelines come two months after McDonald's said it would curtail the use of antibiotics in its U.S. chicken. They aren't mandatory, but the request will send ripples through the industry anyway, as Wal-Mart is the country's largest grocer.

The guidelines will affect suppliers to U.S. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores. Kevin Gardner, a Wal-Mart spokesman, said the company hopes to "work collaboratively with suppliers on this topic."

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