Investors including a nonprofit, FAIRR, Schroders, Legal and General Investment Management, and various national pension funds will pressure major QSRs to eliminate antibiotics from their supply chains. The 71-member group manages or advises on $15.2 trillion in assets. Targets include McDonald’s Corporation, Starbucks and Yum! Brands.

The investor group is urging companies to require elimination of all antibiotics of human therapeutic importance to avoid increasing current levels of antimicrobial resistance. To date at least one dozen QSR chains have established policies to restrict the use of antibiotics.  The Consortium is now requiring verification of antibiotic reduction programs.

At a recent McDonalds Corp. shareholder meeting, a proposal to this effect co-filed by Hesta an Australian pension fund and Legal and General was voted down but gained considerable shareholder support. Citing Debby Blakey, CEO of Hesta, “Concern over antimicrobial resistance could influence the market fundamentals that drive investment returns”.

Antibiotic resistance is only one of a range of issues that have gained the attention of investors. Depending on orientation issues raised by investor groups include herd and flock welfare, sustainability, cybersecurity and protection of labor from exploitation.

Blanket restrictions on antibiotic use are counterproductive and frequently in conflict with welfare and sustainability.  Veterinary professionals should be entrusted with decisions as to the need and desirability of prescribing antibiotics for therapeutic purposes.