Well, that didn’t last long.  The Wall Street Journal reports that Tyson Foods’ “no antibiotics ever” label is gone, at least by the end of the year.  Apparently sanitation problems in factory housing could not be countered with mRNA alone. Or customers wouldn’t pay extra.           

            They’re going back to ionophores to fight coccidiosis, which comes from unsanitary conditions.  Here is a listing of common ionophores:

Ionophore compounds include monensin (Coban, Rumensin, Rumensin CRC, Kexxtone), lasalocid (Avatec, Bovatec), salinomycin (Bio-cox, Sacox), narasin (Monteban, Maxiban), maduramicin (Cygro), laidlomycin (Cattlyst), and semduramicin (Aviax).

            In the WSJ article, these are called “drugs that aren’t important to human health” as if that means they have no affect on human health.  If you Google why they’re toxic to humans, you’ll read these compounds cause “an imbalance of the ion gradient in the cells, disrupting the plasma membrane.”  As for side effects, it’s cardiac toxicity and muscle degeneration.  Sounds like just what I’d like to ingest for supper 

            Of course, the WSJ article quotes a Tyson spokesman that “the new change continues its responsible approach and was made with the best interest of people and animals in mind.  ‘We base our decisions on sound science and an evolving understanding of the best practices impacting our customers, consumers, and the animals in our care,’ he said.”

            It all makes “Feeding You Like Family” sound downright homey, doesn’t it?  In 2017, when the campaign started, Tyson expected consumers to pay 20 percent more for antibiotic-free chicken that requires alternative beneficial bacteria, probiotics, essential oils and herbs to keep them healthy.  At this juncture, Tyson is not saying whether they found people wouldn’t pay the extra or if they’re having trouble with the efficacy of the non-antibiotic alternatives.

            In any case, remember the millions of chickens exterminated in 2020 and the spike in prices?  Today, the poultry industry is awash in too many birds and trying to cut corners wherever possible.  One in five chickens sold in America is a Tyson brand.

            I wonder if Tyson will publicize this change as aggressively as it publicized the “no antibiotics ever” label a few years back.  That would be a “not.”  These food companies publicize things with great fanfare when they think they’re good, but slip this kind of thing in with nary a whimper.  Remember when years ago Burger King announced they would use cage-free eggs within 10 years?  I wonder how that’s going.  It sure created a stir at the time, but I doubt anybody is watching the clock ticking to see if it actually happens.

            Do you trust Tyson and the USDA that these ionophores are benign for humans?