McDonald's Corp. will reduce the use of human antibiotics in its global chicken supply starting in 2018, according to Reuters.
The restaurant chain will require chicken meat suppliers to phase out the use of all antibiotics the World Health Organization designates as critically important to human medicine.
McDonald's implemented this policy in the U.S. a year ago. As of January 2018, the policy will also apply to McDonald's chickens in Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Europe. The company plans enact the policy Australia and Russia by 2019, with all other markets complying by 2027.
McDonald's is also developing antibiotic stewardship plans for other meats, dairy cows and laying hens, according to a policy statement cited by Reuters.
Scientists believe regular use of antibiotics in farm animals contributes to the growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant superbug infections, which kill at least 23,000 Americans each year, according to the report.
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