Brinker International

Brinker International provided a high-level disclosure of its purchased commodities in its ‘2022 Annual Report’ to identify beef, pork, poultry, seafood, and dairy as its key animal proteins. From this disclosure, it is unclear what level of exposure the company has to each protein. Additionally, the company did not repeat this disclosure in its ‘2023 Annual Report’ however the company does outline animal welfare commitments for broilers, beef, pork, and eggs in its ‘2023 Sustainability Report’.

Brinker International set a commitment to eliminate the use of antibiotics important to human medicine from its chicken supply chain, except for the treating and nonroutine control of diagnosed illnesses. FAIRR considers this target to be a policy as it demonstrates the company’s intention to reduce antibiotic use beyond FDA guidelines within its broiler supply chain. Note however that although “antibiotics important to human medicine” is a term occasionally used by the industry to represent the 35 antimicrobial classes used in human medicine outlined in the WHO’s ‘Critically important antimicrobials for human medicine 6th revision’, it does not correctly reflect the WHO’s wording, medically important antimicrobials (MIA). The company does not disclose any evidence of an antibiotic policy for its other purchased proteins. In the company's 2022 sustainability report, the company continues to communicate to its pork and beef suppliers and industry associations its desire for them to optimize production practices and reduce the need for antibiotics important in human medicine in food-producing animals.

It is unclear what percentage of Brinker International’s global restaurant footprint its broiler antibiotic policy applies to. The company disclosed in its 2022 and 2023 sustainability reports, that more than 95% of chicken served in its restaurants is raised with no antibiotics important to human medicine. However, the company also disclosed that it does not control its franchises' ESG programs as they are independent businesses. Therefore its target to eliminate the use of antibiotics important to human medicine from its chicken supply chain may apply to only its company-owned restaurant. If this is so, the target would actually apply to 1,186 of its total 1,657 restaurants covering 72% of its global restaurant footprint and implemented for 68% of its footprint, rather than 95% of its restaurants. It is also unclear if the company’s policy covers its five internationally company-owned restaurants.

Brinker International disclosed in its 2022 and 2023 sustainability reports, that more than 95% of chicken served in its restaurants are raised with no antibiotics important to human medicine, publicly disclosing a metric to demonstrate that it is, in some capacity, tracking antibiotic use in its chicken supply chain. The company does not report that it tracks and measures antibiotic use within its supply chain for any other purchased animal proteins.

Brinker International provides no evidence that it conducts internal or third-party audits to ensure compliance with its antibiotic use policy for its chicken supply chain.

Brinker International does not disclose details of its non-compliance procedure for its antibiotics policy.

In 2019, Brinker International made a commitment to eliminate the use of antibiotics important to human medicine, except for treating and nonroutine control of diagnosed illnesses, from its chicken supply. This is not a timebound target, so it is unclear when the company expects to achieve it. Brinker International has disclosed no other targets to reduce antibiotic use for its other purchased animal proteins.

The company does not clarify what percentage of its global restaurant footprint its target applies to. The company disclosed that it does not control its franchises' ESG programs as they are independent businesses therefore it seems that its target to eliminate the use of antibiotics important to human medicine from its chicken supply chain applies to only its company-owned restaurant. This would represent 1,186 of its total 1,657 restaurants. It is also unclear if the company’s policy covers its 5 internationally company-owned restaurants.

Brinker International disclosed in its 2022 and 2023 sustainability reports, that more than 95% of chicken served in its restaurants are raised with no antibiotics important to human medicine, publicly disclosing a metric to demonstrate progress towards its commitment to eliminate the routine use of antibiotics important to human medicine from its chicken supply. It is unclear if this 95% encapsulates its franchised and international restaurants.

Brinker International is inactive and did not respond to the collaborative engagements formal letter sent in July.