Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 7/28/15

Wendy’s Co. this week is starting to test new chicken products made from poultry raised without antibiotics, a company spokesman confirmed to Meatingplace.

The company is testing Wendy’s New Grilled Chicken Sandwich in seven markets starting in early to mid-August — Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Jacksonville, Orlando, Gainesville, Kansas City and Austin. As part of that test, Wendy’s is offering grilled chicken that is raised without antibiotics in four of the seven test markets — Orlando, Gainesville, Kansas City and Austin.

In addition, the chicken raised without antibiotics will be used on Wendy’s salads and other grilled chicken menu items in the four test markets.

“Our consumers have diverse preferences, and some of our consumers prefer products from animals that have been raised without antibiotics. As part of the ongoing, ever changing scientific and public discussion regarding the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry, we are exploring the use of grilled chicken raised without antibiotics,” Wendy’s said in a statement. “We believe that responsible animal care grounded in sound veterinary practices is essential to producing high quality, safe and affordable food.... Should the need arise where antibiotics are required, the animals should be treated appropriately and under the care of a veterinarian; we would not allow that meat to be included in the supply of this test product.”

The test is the latest in an avalanche of announcements in recent months from foodservice companies (including McDonald’s and Chick-fil- A) as well as poultry processors (including Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride and Perdue) about plans to produce and serve chicken products that were raised with stricter limits on the use of antibiotics.

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