Pizza Hut is going antibiotic-free. The Plano, Texas-based pizza chain said on Tuesday that it would stop serving chicken used for wings and pizza toppings that is treated with human antibiotics by 2022.
The company says it is the first national pizza chain to commit to an antibiotic policy for chicken wings, which Pizza Hut serves through its WingStreet brand.
The announcement “demonstrates our commitment to serve food that not only tastes great, but that customers can feel good about eating,” Chief Brand Officer Marianne Radley said in a statement. She said the company would continue to improve the quality of its food and experience.
The announcement comes as restaurant chains continue to compete on food quality. Pizza Hut rival Papa John’s has made numerous changes to its ingredients over the years, going so far as to name a “chief ingredient officer.”
Other chains, notably McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A, have pushed for the removal of antibiotics from their chicken or have committed to sourcing cage-free eggs.
Pizza Hut has removed preservatives and artificial flavors and colors from its pizzas, eliminated trans fats and cut back on salt.
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