Group Will Protest Use of Antibiotics in Trader Joe's Meat Thursday

Union advocates and Davis residents are expected to gather in front of Trader Joe's Thursday to "urge the grocer to stop selling meat and poultry raised on a steady diet of antibiotics." 

The organizing group is Consumers Union, an advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. They'll be in front of Trader Joe's Russell Boulevard starting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 21. 

We reached out to the Davis Trader Joe's and were referred to a company spokesperson, but have not yet heard back. 

Here's more information from the group that has organized the protest: 

The event is being organized as part of Consumers Union’s campaign to convince Trader Joe’s to help stem a public health crisis:  the declining effectiveness of antibiotics caused by their overuse on livestock. 

“Over 80 percent of all antibiotics sold in the U.S. are used on food animals, most of which aren’t even sick,” said Michael McCauley of Consumers Union’s west coast office in San Francisco.  “The rampant use of antibiotics on farms is promoting drug resistant superbugs that are showing up on our food and spreading to our communities.  We are calling on Trader Joe’s to help end a meat production practice that is a serious danger to public health.” 

Consumers Union advocates will raise awareness about the campaign and conduct outreach to customers at the store.  “Joe the Pig” will be on hand to ask Trader Joe’s to “get me off drugs” and Consumers Union advocates will be available for media interviews.

Consumers Union has gathered over half a million petition signatures to Trader Joe’s from consumers nationwide who want the store to stock only meat and poultry raised without antibiotics.