Consumers Union to Stage 'Meat Without Drugs' Campaign Thursday at Trader Joe's

Hoping to stem the tide of using antiobiotics on food animals that get passed onto humans, Consumers Union is staging an outreach demonstration at Trader Joes Front Street store Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

“The rampant use of antibiotics on farms is promoting drug resistant superbugs that are showing up on our food and spreading to our communities," said Michael McCauley, of Consumers Union.  We are calling on Trader Joe’s to help end a meat production practice that is a serious danger to public health.” 

He said 80 percent of the antibiotics in the country are used on feed animals that aren't even sick.

Consumers Union, part of Consumer Reports, is asking shoppers to sign petitions asking Trader Joe's to stock only meats that are free of the drugs. It will be passing out flyers, providing information and displaying "Joe the Pig."

Nationwide the campaign has collected more than half a million signatures.

According to SF Gate, Trader Joe's told Consumer Reports that it is "always looking to add to our selection of antibiotic-free protein items; however, supply, pricing and product quality have to fit our standards."