Yum! Brands

Yum! Brands has a Good Antimicrobial Stewardship policy that is publicly available on their website. This is supported by brand specific policies for Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC.

Only poultry is covered, despite sourcing other species.

In their policy the company states that the program of Good Antimicrobial Stewardship applies to their global supply chain.

The company states that they are committed to the "responsible, judicious use of antimicrobials to benefit human, animal and environmental health. Reducing, and eliminating where possible the use of antimicrobials important to human medicine (as defined by the WHO). Employment of the judicious use doctrine does not permit the routine use of antimicrobials important to human medicine for growth promotion and disease prevention. In the presence of a known pathogen, we support judicious use of antimicrobials to prevent illness and secure flock/group health and well-being. Antimicrobials specific to animals that are not important to human medicine should be considered for application first whenever feasible".

The company's brand specific commitments these relate to U.S operations and chicken only. Taco Bell U.S. and Pizza Hut U.S. (on chicken for its pizza) have met public commitments to remove antibiotics important to human medicine from their U.S. poultry supply chains. By the end of 2018, all poultry purchased by KFC U.S. will be chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine. However, the company has provided no detail to indicate whether KFC has achieved this target. The company's most recent commitment relates to Pizza Hut U.S. which has stated it will remove all antibiotics important to human medicine by 2022 from its chicken wings including its WingStreet Wings brand.

The company does not report comprehensively on antibiotics use. Yum! Brands previously disclosed information on antibiotics use relating to a pilot programme in two European markets as part of their Good Antimicrobial Stewardship Policy. However, since then, the company has provided no further updates or additional information.

The company states that they deploy a third-party supplier animal welfare audit and consultancy program globally, which includes their Good Antimicrobial Stewardship throughout their supply chain. In their policy, the company also states that for some markets, they are piloting a regular assessment of the impact of their suppliers' husbandry practices on antimicrobial usage in poultry. In the U.S., audits are conducted by the USDA Process Verified Program (PVP), with annual site visits (only applies to chicken). However, it is unclear whether all markets and suppliers are being third-party audited to ensure compliance and monitor antibiotics usage.

Yum! Brands responded to the investor letter providing some insights, but incomplete answers to the investor questions. The company has not met with the investor coalition. Their response is available here.