Premium poultry producer Bell & Evans is celebrating its 20th anniversary of Raised Without Antibiotics (RWA) chicken. The family-owned chicken producer was the first in the U.S. to eliminate the routine use of antibiotics from 100% of its broiler business in August 1998. It received USDA approval of its RWA claim on October 2, 1998.
Bell & Evans’ RWA standard means that no antibiotics are administered throughout the broiler’s entire lifespan, including the egg. The National Organic Program only requires that poultry be under continuous organic management, including no antibiotics, from the second day of life. That loophole allows other chicken producers to administer antibiotics before the second day of life.