(File photo)

A charitable organization in the U.K. has launched a campaign against McDonald's use of antibiotics in its food. The organization sent an email to the CEO of McDonald's, calling on the restaurant chain to stop its use of antibiotics on a global scale, not limiting its antibiotics ban to McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. and to chicken products. The campaign has once again drawn public attention to the issue of antibiotic safety.

McDonald’s China responded on Aug. 16, explaining that it requires its Chinese suppliers to strictly abide by the laws and regulations surrounding antibiotics use. However, the company neither specified whether or not its food contains antibiotics, nor made a promise not to use them. 

Previously, many consumer groups in the U.S. petitioned fast food enterprises including McDonald's to stop using chicken that contained antibiotics. Consequently, McDonald's announced that chicken products containing antibiotics will not be served in American McDonald's restaurants. However, the measure was widely criticized for being limited to U.S. McDonald's franchises. 

McDonald's China told Being Evening News that the use of antibiotics is unavoidable in China. The company does, however, require all its Chinese suppliers to follow China's laws and regulations on antibiotic use. McDonald's plans to work closely with government departments, suppliers and industry experts to expand the industry in accordance with the current circumstances of agriculture in China.