McDonald's is set to ban the use of chicken treated with antibiotics commonly used for humans for the next two years.

The fast food chain made this announcement that is expected to affect the way chicken is produced and consumed in the United States. Not only can this decision influence the fast-food industry, but the country's chicken production as well.

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McDonald's is one of the largest buyers of chickens and eggs in the United States. In 2014, consumer expenditures for chicken topped US$80 billion, based on the record of the industry organization, National Chicken Council.

Christopher Muller, professor of hospitality at Boston University says the change will surely affect everyone. He adds, it makes McDonald's a "market maker" for chickens.

National Chicken Council spokesperson Tom Super says, in 2014, McDonald's bought 3 to 4 percent of the 39 billion pounds of chicken produced in the United States.

McDonald's spokesperson Lisa McComb confirms this: "We serve more chicken than any other restaurant company in the United States."

However, McComb did not give any estimates.

The use of antibiotics in poultry, cattle and hogs has become a controversial issue with customers. Germs can reportedly become more drug resistant. Later on, the effectiveness of antiobiotics in treating human illnesses is said to weaken.

McDonald's decision comes just days after Steve Easterbrook assumed his post as Chief Executive Officer of the world's largest burger chain.

Aside from the new regulation on antibiotics, McDonald's has also announced that it will stop selling milk from cows that were treated with the artificial growth hormone, rbST.

These changes were first made known to the 6,500 McDonald's franchises and suppliers at a company meeting in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. The meeting's theme was "U.S. Turnaround Summit." The public announcement came on Wednesday.

These developments are viewed as a result of increasing calls from patrons and activists for McDonald's to raise its quality of food.

Smaller competitors like Chipotle and Panera already serve chickens that were not raised with antibiotics.

Mike Andres, the U.S. President of McDonald's, says their customers want to feel good when eating and that they want farm-fresh food.

"These moves take a step toward better delivering on those expectations," he notes.

Staying away from antibiotics is becoming a trend in the food business in the United States. National Chicken Council member-firms have already been leaning towards this direction for about year or two. These member-companies include McDonald's suppliers, Tyson and Keystone Foods.

Nutrition authorities hail the announcements, but they want to see more commitment from the food sellers.

Jonathan Kapan, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, calls it a "landmark announcement" amid the struggle to ensure that antibiotics will keep working against human illness. He also expressed his hope that Big Mac and McRib will be the next items to be affected by this change.

TagsMcdonalds, chicken, human antibiotics