While recognizing that the terms “organic,” “naturally raised” and “raised without antibiotics” are not interchangeable, they are often viewed equally favorably by consumers seeking more natural, healthier foods. Food producers, grocery stores and restaurant chains are increasingly marketing their products using these terms. Because the term “organic” has been specifically defined by law and organic labeling requires federal certification, more marketing data are available for this range of products. To be clear, meat products labeled “raised without antibiotics” are not organic; however, all meat products certified as “organic” must have been raised without the use of antibiotics.1
The Demand for Organic Meat Production
U.S. consumer demand for organically produced food has shown double digit growth for over ten years, reaching nearly $21.1 billion in total sales by 2008.2 Demand for organic livestock3 has jumped nearly 161 percent since 1992.4 This increased demand for organic products can be attributed to heightened consumer concern about health.5
As a result of increasing consumer demand, organic products have become more mainstream, appearing now in an estimated 73 percent of grocery stores.6 As availability of organic products has grown, consumption patterns have shifted to reflect this availability. Where consumption of organic goods used to be the lifestyle choice of a small group of consumers, today more than two-thirds of Americans admit to purchasing organic products occasionally.7
1 Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.
2 USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), August 22, 2007, “Organic Agriculture: Consumer Demand Continues To Expand.”
3 Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, Op. cit.
4 USDA ERS, “Table 2. U.S. certified organic farmland acreage, livestock numbers, and farm operations.” USDA counts may not include all livestock that has been grown without the use of antibiotics, which may or may not be certified as organic.
5 2009 U.S. Families' Organic Attitudes and Belief Study
6 USDA ERS August 2007, Op. cit.
7 USDA ERS December 2006, Op. cit.
8 USDA Table 2, Op. cit.
9 Hoovers, available here (subscription required). Also, see the Niman Ranch website.
10 Whole Foods, available here.
11 Hoovers, available here.
12 The Kroger Co., 2008, Kroger Fact Book, Section III: Sales Drivers.
13 Chipotle Mexican Grill. Available here.
14 Chop't Creative Salad Company. Available here.
15 Panera Bread Company. Available here.
16 “McDonald‟s Global Policy on Antibiotic Use in Food Animals."
17 Currently, Chipotle serves naturally raised beef in 50 percent of its restaurants.
18 Chipotle, May 25, 2008, “Chipotle is First Restaurant to Serve 100 Percent Naturally Raised Chicken."
19 Testimony of Steve Ells, Founder, Chairman & Co-CEO, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., before the House Rules Committee, July 13, 2009.
20 Bon Appetit Management Company. Available here and here.
21 Testimony of Fedele Bauccio, Chief Executive Officer, Bon Appétit Management Company, before the House Rules Committee, July 13, 2009.
22 “The Use of Antibiotics in Meat Production,” video of Applegate Farms‟ CEO Steve McDonnell.
23 See, for example, Associated Press, July 6, 2006, “U.S. Demand for Organic Food Exceeds Supply."
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today introduced the Preventing Antibiotic Resistance Act, a bipartisan bill that would eliminate certain antibiotic-related practices that contribute to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria and endanger human health. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
More infoThis bibliography lists the latest published scientific and economic literature concerning the contribution of routine antibiotic use in food animals to the growing public health crisis of human antibiotic resistance. Research on how antibiotic use in food animal production contributes to the growing health crisis of antibiotic resistance dates back more than 30 years.
More infoPew Charitable Trusts today applauded Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Susan Collins (R-ME), for introducing the Antimicrobial Data Collection Act, which would require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, to report more information on the annual sales of antibiotics used among industrial farm animals. The bipartisan bill would also give the agency a deadline to finalize policies proposed last year to eliminate the use of antibiotics for growth promotion purposes in meat production.
More info"As a nation, we need to exercise greater care with our use of antibiotics, in both humans and animals, so that these medications remain effective in treating serious bacterial infections."
More infoCopyright(c) 1996-2012 The Pew Charitable Trusts. All Rights Reserved.
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