The company said it was “stepping up” to the nutritional plate by offering a range of pork and poultry products that are produced without the need for antibiotics or growth–enhancing steroids. Livestock used for this range of meat will only be fed a vegetarian diet too.
All the products are certified by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) as meeting three criteria: no antibiotics, no added hormones or steroids, no animal by-products (vegetarian-fed).
“We believe every shopper should have access to food they feel good about serving their family,” said Aldi’s CEO Jason Hart in a press statement. “That’s why we’re dedicated to providing high quality groceries at affordable prices – making healthy living simple for more than 32 million customers who shop our stores each month.”
Further expansion unclear
Aldi operates 1,500 stores across 34 US states. The launch of the Never Any! range follows a commitment by the company to ban added MSG, partially hydrogenated oils and certified synthetic colouring from all Aldi-exclusive food items.
It is not known if Aldi will launch the Never Any! range in Europe or Australia.
Aldi has six core products in the antibiotic-free meat range: chicken breasts, pork or turkey ham, hickory bacon, whole chicken, chicken breast tenderloins and Italian spinach feta chicken sausages.