What Grades Did Rochester Fast-Food Restaurants Get On the Beef Test?

It is so convenient to stop at a fast-food restaurant on the way home from work. Some nights I just don't feel like making a mess of my kitchen and having to do the dishes afterward. Rochester is lucky in the fact that we do have a lot of fast-food options, but do you really know what you are putting into your body when you eat there?

The New York Post did an article about a study done by Consumer Reports that graded fast-food restaurants' beef. They were looking at the routine use of antibiotics in the beef sold at 21 national chains. Rochester has 15 of the restaurants in this study.

While many farmers say the appropriate use of antibiotics prevents disease in cows, Consumer Reports claims:

The overuse of antibiotics in livestock production significantly contributes to the rise and spread of antibiotic resistance. When antibiotics are used routinely, some bacteria are able to withstand the drugs, survive and multiply, spreading resistant strains. These bacteria may share their resistance genes with other bacteria, even those that may not have been directly exposed to antibiotics in the first place. Nearly two-thirds of the medically important antibiotics sold in the U.S. go to food animals. Many meat producers routinely give drugs to animals that are not sick to help them survive the stressful, unsanitary conditions on factory farms. Despite the threat posed to public health, the U.S. lacks effective laws and policies to prevent the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture.

Getting an A on the Beef Test was Chipotle. I was shocked about this especially because they have been in the news for an E Coli outbreak. The article says that a large majority of beef that is served in Chipotle restaurants across the country is grass-fed, making it healthier beef.

Panera finished second with a grade of an A-. The article states that they only serve grass-fed beef. They also use a lot of fresh ingredients when preparing their food. That is one of the many reasons Panera is one of my go-tos!

Getting middle-grade scores were McDonlands and Subway with a grade of a C. Subways goal is to have all antibiotic-free beef by 2025.

Wendy's received a D+ and Taco Bell got a D. Not great, but not horrible scores either.

Nine other chain restaurants with locations in Rochester declined to participate in the study, according to the New York Post. Consumer Reports says these restaurants are "lacking any public policy to source beef raised without the routine use of antibiotics." You can see the full report here.

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