Global fast food companies need to improve animal welfare
News
Major food companies need to highly consider animal welfare standards, according to the new Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare Report.
Chicken in a high welfare farm
Company rankings
The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare Report (BBFAW) ranks food companies from Tier 1 for best performing to Tier 6 for worst performing.
Best performing companies have a comprehensive and coherent approach to farm animal welfare. They have set standards that guide how farm animals are treated across the entire food chain.
In retrospect. Tier 6 companies are those that have not taken any active initiative to entrench animal welfare in their work to ensure the care and protection of farm animals.
What generally distinguishes these companies are the scores for the Performance Reporting and Impact section. This means leading companies provide a detailed account of how they implement animal welfare policies internally and across the supply chain, as well as provide information on the impacts of its policies.
In this year’s ranking, Yum Brands (KFC) and Dominos ranked Tier 3 up from Tier 4. They had invested in setting up an animal welfare policy and are going through the process of implementing the same. However, Carrefour has developed an animal welfare policy but are yet to take the necessary steps to actualize the next phase.
Pressure to improve animal welfare
Changing consumer opinions about the importance of good animal welfare continues to determine how much food companies reap from their businesses. More people are aware and appreciate the importance of good animal welfare practise and are mounting pressure on industries to deliver the same.
In addition, growing acknowledgement of the business risks and opportunities associated with farm animal welfare is encouraging companies to revise their systems. Moreover, investors want to know that food companies are effectively managing the business opportunities presented by farm animal welfare.
Why Farm animal welfare is a global concern
Farm animals are known for playing a significant role in the society. For instance, about 300 million people in Africa depend on farm animals to sustain their livelihoods and to boost their economic status.
In addition, just like human beings, animals can feel pain, hunger and happiness. They therefore deserve care to ensure they live a full healthy life.
Animal welfare also contributes to the product that lands on the consumer plate. When animals are not well reared in the farm, this could lead up to zoonotic disease spread and by extension antibiotic resistance.
Our call
Supermarkets, producers and fast food retailers have the power to ensure farm animal lives are improved. With the development and implementation of animal welfare policies, we’ll see a reduction in animal suffering.
Join our animal welfare movement
Farm animals are known for playing a significant role in the society. For instance, about 300 million people in Africa depend on farm animals to sustain their livelihoods and to boost their economic status.