Progress is being made by restaurants and bars to improve their farm animal welfare standards although they still lag behind retailers.This is according to the latest Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare, supported by Compassion in World Farming.
The Benchmark report shows that an increasing number of global food companies are demonstrating strong commitments to animal welfare.
Companies are rated into tiers depending on how well they have established farm animal welfare into their systems. The top two tiers include Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Co-op Food, Greggs, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Unilever and McDonald’s.
However, the report also shows that there is a lot more work to be done. The overall average score remains low and 41 out of the 110 companies are in the bottom two tiers. This indicates that they provide little or no information on their approach to farm animal welfare.
Compassion in World Farming are a member of Sustain. Their CEO, Philip Lymbery, is encouraged by the latest report:
“I’m particularly pleased by the step change in attitude from within the restaurants and bars sector this year, which has traditionally lagged behind the retailer and manufacturing sectors. Pressure from consumers, investors, the media and NGOs, is shining a spotlight on farm animal welfare, forcing it up the corporate agenda. I congratulate those companies responding positively and encourage those yet to meet the challenge to start taking action for farm animals in their supply.”
According to the report, the key driver to improve farm animal welfare is due to customer and consumer demand. The majority of the global companies in the report are now making commitments on key animal welfare issues such as free range eggs and the end of sow stalls.
The Benchmark report is supported by Compassion in World Farming, World Animal Protection, and investment firm, Coller Capital. You can download the Executive Summary and the full 2017 Business Benchmark Report.
Sustain campaigns for a food and farming policy which benefits the environment, health, animals and farmers.
Published Tuesday 13 March 2018
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
