Why We Still Say No to Antibiotics and Ionophores (and Why That Matters)

You may have seen the headlines: some of the biggest names in chicken — including Tyson and Chick-fil-A -- have quietly walked back their "No Antibiotics Ever" commitments. In its place, they’re now using a new label: “No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine” (NAIHM). That might sound like a small shift, but it carries big implications for how chickens are raised -- and what ends up on your plate.

So, what changed?

Under the old "No Antibiotics Ever" (NAE) program, poultry producers were not allowed to use any antibiotics at any time, for any reason - even those used only in animals. But under the new NAIHM label, producers are now allowed to use ionophores.

What Are Ionophores?

Ionophores are a class of antibiotics used in animals to prevent coccidiosis — a parasitic disease that affects the gut. Unlike other antibiotics, ionophores aren’t used in human medicine, so large producers argue they’re "safe" from an antibiotic resistance standpoint.

But here’s the truth: ionophores also act as a growth promoter. When added to feed, they help birds convert food to muscle more efficiently, leading to faster weight gain and lower feed costs. This isn’t just about animal health -- it’s about productivity and profit.

Why Wormuth Farm Says No, Still

At Wormuth Farm, we’ve chosen a different path. Our chickens are 100% antibiotic-free, including ionophores. We don’t use clever label changes or marketing loopholes to shift our practices behind the scenes.

We believe in transparency, plain language, and raising animals in ways that reflect what our customers expect when they hear pasture-raised.

Our chickens are raised outdoors, on grass, in fresh air and sunshine. They are rotated daily to new pasture, where they can express their natural behaviors, scratch the soil, and forage. We work hard to keep them healthy through good pasture management, clean water, space to move, and locally milled feed.

We don't rely on quick fixes. We don’t need growth promoters. And when you buy from Wormuth Farm, you can be confident that “no antibiotics” really means no antibiotics - full stop.

Why This Matters

There’s nothing wrong with wanting healthy, safe food. But today’s labels can be misleading. “No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine” might sound similar to “No Antibiotics Ever,” but it opens the door to substances that help birds grow faster — not necessarily live better.

We're proud to hold a higher standard.

If you're here, reading this, you're probably someone who cares about how your food is raised. So thank you for asking questions, reading the fine print, and supporting farms like ours that do things the honest way.

We promise to keep telling it like it is.