SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Tyson Foods Inc. has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over rules for labeling chicken without antibiotics.

Tyson has said it was given permission by the USDA to use the “raised without antibiotics” label on its chicken products. The company was later sued by a coalition of groups including two competitors. The USDA also later restricted Tyson from using the label when it found the company was using antibiotics in hatcheries two to three days before the birds were hatched.

Tyson has claimed that the use of antibiotics before hatching is an industry standard and that regulations count the raising of chickens from the day after they are hatched.

The company has stated that “uncertainty and controversy over product labeling regulations” have led it to this decision. Tyson has said that the USDA has changed rules and companies can now no longer use the “raised without antibiotics” chicken label if antibiotics are administered “in ovo” before the chickens have hatched.

Source: Datamonitor NewsWire