Cargill is again reducing antibiotic use in its turkey business, making good on its promise of ongoing reductions in their overall use. On Aug. 1, 2016, the company ended the use of gentamicin – an antibiotic used in both human and animal healthcare – for disease prevention in turkeys harvested for its two largest brands, Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms. Turkeys will continue to receive antibiotics for control and treatment of disease. Cargill’s turkey products covered by this decision will be available in the marketplace by Jan. 1, 2017.
Correspondingly, Cargill is expanding its antibiotic-free turkey products through the creation of its new Honest Turkey product line. These products will be differentiated from conventional turkey offerings because they come from turkeys that are never treated with antibiotics.