Tell Walmart to stop selling meat raised on routine antibiotics

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon:

We, the undersigned, urge Walmart to commit to eliminating routine antibiotic use from the supply chains for its private-label meat.

Every year, as many as 160,000 Americans die from infections caused by multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Globally, the annual death toll could rise to 10 million by 2050.

Since these dangerous "superbugs" typically arise when bacteria mutate to evade the antibiotics targeting them, these medicines must be used sparingly and responsibly. And yet, nearly two-thirds of the medically important antibiotics sold in the United States go to produce meat -- often being used to compensate for stressful, unsanitary and overcrowded conditions rather than treat sick animals.

Major companies such as yours can play a huge role in protecting public health by eliminating the routine use of antibiotics in the meat they package and sell directly and leading the industry away from dangerous antibiotic overuse.

Sincerely,