Food companies face investor calls to curb antibiotic use on farms

Food companies are facing increasing pressure from their investors over the overuse of antibiotics in the food supply chains as campaigners turn to shareholder muscle to tackle the global scourge of antimicrobial resistance. 

About 70 per cent of antibiotics are consumed by animals to prevent disease, and companies that produce, or buy, large amounts of meat are becoming a focus for campaigners.

As investors become more aware of the threat that antimicrobial resistance can pose to returns, the number of resolutions at annual meetings putting pressure on household-name companies to address the growing risk of AMR has risen significantly over the past few years.