Information for Darden Restaurants* (DRI) Shareholders Regarding Green Century’s 2017 Antibiotic Use Shareholder Proposal
Press Release Contact: Marissa LaFave, Green Century Capital Management, mlafave@greencentury.com, (617) 482-0800
BOSTON, August 10, 2017 – Green Century is seeking support for its shareholder proposal requesting that Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) adopt a policy to phase out routine uses of medically important antibiotics in its meat supply chain. The proposal focuses on the mitigation of the business risks related to changing consumer preferences, reputational damage, and strengthening regulation.
Green Century’s briefing memo outlines why eliminating the routine use, defined as the use of medically important antibiotics for growth promotion or disease prevention, would serve the long-term interests of the company and its investors, safeguard public health, and reduce the risk of Darden being positioned as an industry laggard.
Approximately 70% of medically important antibiotics in the U.S. are sold for use in livestock. This overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture makes it more likely that antibiotic-resistant bacteria will flourish and spread. These bacteria move through air, waste, water, and workers, potentially infecting people regardless of their meat consumption. Antibiotic resistance kills 23,000 people annually in the U.S. This number is expected to rise to 300 million globally by 2050, killing more people than cancer kills today.
Green Century will be presenting its proposal at Darden Restaurants’ September 21 shareholder meeting.
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About Green Century Capital Management: Green Century offers three environmentally and socially responsible mutual funds. Through fossil fuel free investing and our three-pronged approach of sustainable investing, active shareholder advocacy, and support of environmental and public health non-profits we work to curb climate change, improve environmental policies, and limit environmental impacts of company supply chains.
*As of June 30, 2017, Darden Restaurants, Inc. comprised 0.00%, 0.00%, and 0.13% of the Green Century Green Century International Index Fund, the Green Century Balanced Fund and the Green Century Equity Fund, respectively. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation by the Funds, their administrator, or their distributor.
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This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of publication and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.
The Green Century Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 8/17
