But what about food safety? Or peer review? Most US restaurant chains get failing grades on antibiotic use in new report

Chipotle Mexican Grill and Panera Bread were given high marks for their efforts – but they suck at microbial food safety — to eliminate the use of antibiotics from the meat they serve, while fast-food giants Burger King, Domino’s and Wendy’s are among those given failing grades, according to a new scorecard released Tuesday by a coalition of environmental and consumer advocacy groups.

chipotle.ad.2Panera, Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s have all adopted policies that either limit the use of medically important antibiotics, or prohibit any antibiotic use in the production of the meat they serve.

But the report notes Panera and Chipotle, which were given A grades, are the only chains that publicly affirm that the majority of their meat and poultry offered is produced without routine use of antibiotics.

And that’s why grades suck. Especially those published as an easy news hook in the absence of peer review.