Read Buzzfeed’s 18 Incredible Things You Didn’t Know About Trader Joe’s, and you’ll learn some tidbits about Hawaiian shirts and ginger snaps. But the thing we find pretty incredible (perhaps #19?) is that this company still continues to stock its shelves with meat from animals raised on antibiotics.
We know Trader Joe’s customers expect better. Most are shocked to learn that their beloved grocer would offer such products, given that the overuse of antibiotics in meat production is contributing to the already huge and still growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
In fact, our survey found that 87% of Trader Joe’s shoppers agree that supermarkets and meat suppliers should work together to avoid giving food animals antibiotics unless they are sick. And 69% of TJ’s shoppers said they think that supermarkets selling meat raised with antibiotics are doing a disservice to their consumers. Fewer than a quarter of those surveyed realized that TJ’s currently sells antibiotic-raised meat.
You can find some select meat products in stores raised without antibiotics – chicken mostly. But much of their pork, beef and turkey is sourced from suppliers where “antibiotics are likely used.”
Joe, we know you can do better.
We’ll give credit where credit is due on ginger snaps and Two Buck Chuck — but when it comes to their meat, read labels carefully. And if you’re ready to see TJ’s kick its antibiotics habit to the curb, take them a message the next time you shop.
