Tyson says all its fresh chicken will be antibiotic-free

Tyson Foods will no longer use antibiotics to raise chicken that is sold fresh in stores and will launch a $70-million advertising campaign to tout the shift, the nation’s largest meat producer said Tuesday.

The company said fresh chicken raised without antibiotics was shipped to stores Monday and would be sold beginning this week.

“We’re providing mainstream consumers with products they want,” Tyson Chief Executive Richard L. Bond said.

Consumers will have to pay slightly more for the privilege, though. Tyson Senior Vice President Dave Hogberg declined to say how much but said it would be “below the cost consumers say they’re willing to pay.”

Tyson will also spend more to make the switch-over to raising the antibiotic-free chickens. Hogberg said Tyson was converting 20 -- or slightly less than half -- of its production facilities. He declined to specify how much the move was costing the company.

Bond, however, said the switch would not affect short-term earnings.

Fresh chicken now accounts for less than 10% of the company’s sales, Hogberg said.