Playing 'Chicken' with Labeling Laws--Tyson Lies for a Buck

Court Orders Tyson to Suspend Ads For Antibiotic-Free Chicken

By Annys Shin

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, May 2, 2008; D01

Poultry giant Tyson Foods has 14 days to dismantle a national multimillion dollar ad campaign centered on the claim that its chickens are raised without antibiotics, a federal appeals court in Richmond ruled yesterday.

Tyson, based in Springdale, Ark., will have to remove posters and brochures from 8,500 grocery stores nationwide.

"We're disappointed the motion for a stay has been denied and are evaluating our legal options," said Gary Mickelson, a spokesman for Tyson Foods. "We continue to believe we have acted responsibly in the way we have labeled and marketed our products and intend to stand our ground."

. . . Sanderson and Perdue initially based their legal challenge on Tyson's practice of feeding chickens ionophores, an antibiotic used only in animals raised for food . . . Tyson officials acknowledged they also inject eggs several days before they hatch with…