Kenyans are a worried lot after popular American fast food restaurant, Burger King, on Friday announced that it would not stop using antibiotics on their chicken in the Kenyan market.
In a report first published by the Business Daily, Restaurants Brands International - which owns Burger King - pledged to cut down on usage of antibiotics in the United States and Canada but highlighted the same would not apply to Kenya.
"These Restaurants Brands International commitments relate exclusively to the markets of the US and Canada. Kenya is not concerned," Servair communications officer Samuel Coulon was quoted by the local paper.
The restaurant indicated that: "We aim to eliminate the use of antibiotics deemed by the World Health Organisation as “critically important” to human medicine from our chicken supply chain in the US in 2017 and in Canada in 2018."
Health organizations, including the American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, Infectious Disease Society of America, and the WHO have concluded that there is a connection between antibiotic use in animals and the loss of effectiveness of these drugs in human medicine.
The announcement, which has since been termed discriminatory, sparked varied reactions among Kenyans with some vowing never to set foot at the restaurant.
Burger King opened its first outlet in Nairobi at The Hub mall in Karen in November last year. Since its opening, many have flocked the restaurant to have a taste of the burger.
Here are the reactions:
