Kraft Heinz will extend its animal welfare commitments to include higher standards of treatment for broiler chickens in its US supply chain.
By 2024, the company will source all of its chickens from breeds approved by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) or Global Animal Partnership (GAP), helping to deliver ‘measurably improved welfare and quality of life’.
It will provide more space per bird, including a stocking density no greater than six pounds per square foot; improve the environment provided to broiler chickens; and implement a multi-step controlled-atmosphere processing system that will improve living conditions for the broiler chickens it rears.
Kraft Heinz uses chicken in a variety of different products – from Heinz soup and frozen ready meals to its Lunchables brand of snacks.
Michael Mullen, senior vice-president of corporate and government affairs for Kraft Heinz, said: “When we issued our global animal welfare policy earlier this year, we underscored our commitment to the humane treatment of animals, and said we would prioritise continuous animal welfare improvements throughout our supply chain. Today, we’re delivering on that promise by joining the food industry in an effort to advance the wellbeing of broiler chickens in our supply.”
As part of the commitments, Kraft Heinz will demonstrate its compliance through supplier verification or third-party auditing, with progress set to be communicated as part of the company’s regular sustainability reporting.
Mullen continued: “Extensive changes such as these require significant investment of time and resources, industry-wide. We recognise the complexity of this undertaking and look forward to collaborating with our suppliers, the food industry and other stakeholders to advance these ambitious goals in a way that is sustainable for our collective businesses.”
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