Nation’s 2nd-largest school district switching to antibiotic-free chicken

Los Angeles Unified School District will soon be the country’s first large school district to serve only antibiotic-free chicken, after a deal unanimously approved by the district’s board last week.

The decision stems from LAUSD’s 2014 Good Food Procurement Resolution, which calls for antibiotic- and hormone-free standards as part of its food-purchasing guidelines, according to a release.

“The passing of the resolution shows the bold steps this school district is taking to ensure the health and wellness of students,” LAUSD’s Food Services Interim Co-Director Laura Benavidez said in a statement. “Providing the best-possible, highest-quality food for students shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a right.”

LAUSD is the second-largest school district in the country, serving 3.1 million meals per day, officials say. Over the past decade, the district’s board has required reductions in salt, sugar and fat, and the addition of meat-free options. Sodas and junk food are also no longer for sale in the district.