Subway is planning to serve poultry products made from turkey and chicken raised without antibiotics.
The move comes after several consumer groups came down heavily on the company for its lack of transparency in providing specific details.
US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) public health program director Steve Blackledge was quoted by Food Safety News as saying: "Overusing antibiotics on livestock and poultry contributes to a major public health problem, antibiotic-resistant infections. People are increasingly aware of this, and customers have been hungry for meat raised without antibiotics."
The company has more than 27,000 fast-food restaurants and beginning March, its customers will be able to purchase products made of chicken raised without antibiotics, Reuters reported.
In June, Subway announced its move to remove artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives from its products, which include sandwiches, salads, soups, and cookies, served in its North American restaurants by end of 2017.
The company also aims to phase out products made of pork and beef raised with antibiotics by 2025.
Subway purchasing cooperative executive vice president Dennis Clabby was quoted by Reuters as saying : "A change like this will take some time, particularly since the supply of beef raised without antibiotics in the U.S. is extremely limited and cattle take significantly longer to raise. But we are working diligently with our suppliers to make it happen."
Subway serves made-to-order sandwiches and salads at more than 44,000 locations in 111 countries.
Apart from Subway, McDonald's too had announced that it would purchase only chicken raised without antibiotics by 2017 for its US restaurants, reported Reuters.
