July 7, 2003 Jim Cantalupo, Chairman and CEO McDonald’s Corporation McDonald’s Plaza Oak Brook, IL 60523 Dear Mr. Cantalupo: I am writing on behalf of the "Keep Antibiotics Working" coalition to thank McDonald’s for its new global policy to reduce the use of antibiotics in producing the meat it purchases. Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide public health threat to which all uses of antibiotics contribute. Current scientific evidence indicates that the overuse of antibiotics in farm animals breeds antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can cause hard-to-treat infections in people. Your new policy demonstrates your recognition and concern about this issue, a concern shared by the National Academy of Sciences, the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, and other major scientific and medical organizations. These groups, in addition to a growing roster of health, consumer, environmental, and other advocacy organizations, have recommended that the use of antibiotics in agriculture be curtailed. McDonald’s policy sends an important message to the public, meat producers, and policymakers that it is possible to protect public health by limiting the antibiotics fed to farm animals. The policy is commendable because it requires your direct meat suppliers to phase out use of medically important antibiotics as growth promoters; establishes sustainable use principles for overall antibiotic use, and requires direct suppliers to report all antibiotic use through an internal program with regular audits. Though not mandatory for indirect suppliers, compliance with the policy is also "a favorable factor in supply decisions," which creates an incentive for compliance by a wider group of producers. McDonald’s action demonstrates that concrete steps can be taken right now to limit antibiotic use, protect public health and keep antibiotics effective. "Keep Antibiotics Working" thanks McDonald’s for being a leader in the quick-service food industry on this important issue. At the same time, there is more that McDonald’s can – and should – do to reduce overuse of antibiotics in agriculture. We urge McDonald’s to strengthen its policy by: 1) eliminating so-called routine prophylaxis – regularly feeding antibiotics to animals that are not clinically sick in order to compensate for stressful, unsanitary, overcrowded growing conditions; 2) requiring indirect suppliers to abide by the policy; and 3) adding third-party certification to its monitoring program. Again, "Keep Antibiotics Working" is encouraged to see McDonald’s take this important first step to reduce non-therapeutic use of these life-saving drugs. We would be happy to discuss this with you further. Please contact us if you have any questions. Sincerely, John Riley Coordinator cc: Bob Langert, VP, Social Responsibility, McDonald’s Corporation