Source: MEATINGPLACE, 1/27/17

Animal welfare has become a key business issue for the world’s leading food companies, which are paying increased attention to the matter within their supply chains, concludes a report assessing 99 major brands.

Almost three-quarters (73 percent) of companies have published farm animal welfare policies, up from 46 percent in 2012, according to the findings compiled by Compassion in World Farming, World Animal Protection and investment firm Coller Capital.

Top priorities are close confinement and the reduction of routine use of antibiotics, said the report, titled “Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare.”

Farm animal welfare is emerging as a source of competitive advantage rather than being viewed only a potential business risk through increased costs or media exposes of poor practices, the report noted.

Cargill and McDonald’s Corp. were among companies that received a Tier 2 ranking for making animal welfare integral to their business strategy.

Tier 3 companies that have established policies but still have work to be done included Hormel Foods, JBS, Subway, Sysco Corp., Tyson Foods, Walmart and Wendy’s.

Those making progress on implementation (Tier 4) included Chipotle Mexican Grill, Costco Wholesale, Kroger, Panera Bread and WH Group.

At Tier 5 for showing limited evidence of implementation were Chick-fil-A, ConAgra, Darden Restaurants, Dunkin’ Brands, OSI Group, Publix, Starbucks, Target and Yum Brands, among others.

Those ranked at the bottom, or Tier 6, for showing no evidence of having animal welfare on the business agenda included Domino’s Pizza and Kraft Heinz.

“As global demand for livestock products continues to increase, and the world seeks to reconcile food production with the ecological limits of the planet, it is incumbent on all of us to ensure that production systems meet both the health and behavioral needs of food animal species,” Keith Kenny, vice president of sustainability at McDonald’s Corp., said in a forward to the report.

“Given the interrelatedness of global supply chains, the industry and key stakeholders will increasingly need to work together to create solutions that work for consumers, producers, businesses, the environment — and of course the millions of farm animals around the world,” Kenny said.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.