Tyson Foods will launch two pilot projects in the next year to render chickens unconscious before they are slaughtered.
The controlled atmosphere stunning technique is to be used at two of Tyson’s poultry facilities in the US, before a decision will be made on whether to roll it out to other sites.
Tyson claimed support of the use of gas as a way of rendering birds unconscious before processing has increased in recent years among scientists, vets and animal welfare advocates, since it eliminates the handling of conscious birds.
Today the company has launched an animal well-being initiative that also includes a new video monitoring system to ensure the animals are handled correctly.
Chief sustainability officer for Tyson Foods Justin Whitmore said: “Ensuring the well-being of the animals in our care is a core part of our broader sustainability journey and these initiatives are the latest examples of our leadership in this important area.
“We’re also piloting other potential innovations as we become the world’s most sustainable producer of protein.”
Earlier this year the poultry giant announced it would stop using antibiotics on all its chickens.
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