LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that Tyson Foods Inc. routinely gave chickens an antibiotic that can be used in humans, even though the company had defended its "raised without antibiotics" claim by saying it only used an antibiotic not used in people.
The world's largest meat producer used gentamicin on its poultry, which has been administered for more than 30 years in the United States to treat a variety of infections in humans.
Springdale-based Tyson, responding to a federal lawsuit over labeling its poultry as "raised without antibiotics," already said it used ionophores in its chicken feed. Though widely considered an antibiotic, ionophores are not used to treat illnesses in humans and thus are not believed to raise human health concerns.
"In contrast to information presented by Tyson Foods Inc., (inspectors) found that they routinely used the antibiotic gentamicin to prevent illness and death in chicks, which raises public health concerns," Raymond said in a statement.
Amanda Eamich, a USDA spokeswoman, said the agency also sent a letter Monday night to Tyson, warning that it could not consider its no-antibiotics label as "truthful and accurate."
"The use of this particular antibiotic was not disclosed to us," Eamich said.
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