About 18 months ago you signed our petition on Change.org to get the risk of Superbugs out of the school lunch program. That petition is featured in an award winning documentary film called Food Patriots. Today, we are sharing some good news with all Food Patriots. This week the USDA created a new category of safer chicken that will be available for school lunches. The new Certified Responsible Antibiotics Use (CRAU) label means that chickens are raised without antibiotics, but these chickens may be prescribed antibiotics by a veterinarian if they get sick. CRAU is better than conventional chicken, but not as safe as Organic or Never Given Antibiotics. What is significant is that many chicken producers can change to meet this new standard right away, assuring there will be a supply of CRAU chicken available for next school year. This is another victory in a long struggle to fix our food system. And together we’re building a Groundswell. We are all in the picture. Last year we released our film Food Patriots. Through hundreds of screenings in film festivals, community organizations, schools, universities, libraries and public events thousands of people began conversations about where their food comes from and committed to change 10% of what they buy and what they eat. In addition, parents and students got vocal about food served in their local schools; communities organized food coops; students started community gardens, and co-workers began eating healthier. Together we are sending powerful signals to the food industry that we, their customers, demand change. Since we released Food Patriots, consumers, voting with their pocketbooks, have won these victories from major brands vowing to serve chicken never given antibiotics. We are striving for this higher standard and it will take time for producers to change their operations to provide enough supply. • McDonald’s vowed to only serve chicken raised without antibiotics within 2 years • Tyson is converting its operations to all antibiotic-free within 5 years • Panera and Chipotle serve only chicken raised without antibiotics now • Chick-fil-A is changing to 100% chicken raised without antibiotics within 5 years While companies respond to consumer demand, it takes policy changes in the legislature and at the USDA and FDA to make deeper changes that impact systemic problems. That’s why our petition targeted the USDA, and why we made many trips to Washington DC with Super Moms Against Superbugs to talk to legislators. Today’s victory is at the policy level. This new rule is due in part to the voices of all of you and the lobbying efforts of Pew Charitable Trusts and School Food Focus. In the US, 80% of all antibiotics used each year are fed to healthy farm animals. We still have a long road ahead to improve the safety of our food supply and save antibiotics for human health. But this victory protects our most vulnerable eaters; our children when they are at school. To see Food Patriots, the movie behind the movement, go to www.foodpatriots.org You can download the film for home viewing, or schedule a screening at your school, workplace, university, community or faith organization, local theater or public library. Speakers available upon request. To see how the film is making an impact, watch this short trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2HWfQvG5P8&feature=youtu.be