The 'Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard' by Mercy
For Animals highlights progress in cage-free eggs and chicken
welfare but warns of persistent gaps in standards and
transparency
TORONTO, Oct. 30,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than 130 cage-free egg
policies, over 50 Better Chicken Commitment policies and numerous
crate-free pork policies adopted over the past decade, the "Canada
Animal Welfare Scorecard," published Wednesday, Oct. 30, by Mercy For Animals, reveals
which companies are leading the charge — and which are falling
behind — in animal welfare. In this fourth edition, the report
underscores the need for continued public scrutiny and corporate
accountability to drive industry-wide change and reduce animal
suffering.
The scorecard is the only one of its kind in Canada, ranking 40 major food companies on
their commitment to improving welfare for millions of animals.
Serving as a benchmarking report for the private sector, the
scorecard is an essential tool for food businesses to learn how
they stack up to competitors and which animal welfare issues are
most important to consumers while providing the public with the
most up-to-date information to hold companies accountable. Since
the first edition of the scorecard in 2021, the number of animal
welfare policies with transparent reporting has tripled.
The 2024 scorecard shows some companies making encouraging
progress in three key areas while others fall behind:
- Cage-free: McDonald's Canada, Boston Pizza and Eggsmart have met
their cage-free egg targets ahead of schedule, while Aramark has
significantly ramped up their cage-free egg sourcing. Despite these
strides, major egg producers Burnbrae Farms and Gray Ridge Eggs
continue to lack transparency and commitments regarding cage
confinement systems.
- Chicken welfare: Maple Leaf Foods has completed
their transition to less cruel slaughter methods, and industry
giants Loblaws and Restaurant Brands International, the parent
company of Tim Hortons and Popeyes,
have reported progress on implementing policies aligned with the
Better Chicken Commitment. But the industry still relies heavily on
birds bred for unnaturally rapid growth who commonly suffer from
severe health issues.
- Mother pig welfare: Starbucks and Costco Canada
have made substantial advances in transitioning to group housing
for pregnant pigs, outpacing the industry's own timelines. Yet many
companies are still not reporting progress in this area.
The report identifies concerning shortcomings in addressing
critical issues:
- While 70% have reported some progress on animal
welfare, only 15% of companies evaluated provide
comprehensive updates on all three key policies: cage-free eggs,
crate-free pork and chicken that meets leading global
standards.
- Thirty-six percent of grocery retailers and 20% of restaurants
have failed to disclose any progress, highlighting
a troubling lack of transparency and commitment.
- Ongoing cruel practices, such as the use of "Frankenchickens" —
birds genetically selected for ultrafast growth, which causes
muscle disorders, immobility and other serious health problems —
are a major concern. Although the Better Chicken Commitment seeks
to address these issues, company implementation plans lack
transparency and progress remains slow.
"The fourth edition of the 'Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard'
from Mercy For Animals shows that more companies than ever are
reporting animal welfare progress but also finds persistent gaps in
standards and transparency," said PJ Nyman, corporate engagement
manager at Mercy For Animals. "Meat and egg producers trail
corporate and consumer demand, and Canada falls further behind our peer countries
each year. This underscores the urgent need for accelerated action
and greater accountability to improve animal welfare
nationwide."
Mercy For Animals urges companies to step up their efforts and
provide clear, actionable roadmaps for achieving their animal
welfare goals. "As consumers and companies around the world
increasingly prioritize animal welfare, the scorecard has become an
essential Canadian benchmarking tool, revealing whether companies
are living up to their public promises," Nyman continued.
For more information or to schedule an interview with PJ Nyman,
contact Jessica Bohrson at
press@mercyforanimals.org.
Media Resources
- Link to "Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard."
- Images of hens in confinement.
Mercy For Animals is a leading international nonprofit
working to end industrial animal agriculture by constructing a just
and sustainable food system. Active in Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico
and the United States, the
organization has conducted over 100 investigations of factory farms
and slaughterhouses, influenced over 500 corporate policies and
helped pass historic legislation to ban cages for farmed animals.
2024 marks Mercy For Animals' 25th
year of groundbreaking campaigns and programs. Learn more at
MercyForAnimals.org.
The Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) is an
industry-leading set of animal welfare standards that addresses
some of the worst practices affecting chickens raised for meat. The
BCC calls for giving chickens more space, providing environmental
enrichment and better litter and lighting conditions that more
closely meet their needs, switching to higher-welfare breeds of
chickens and replacing live-shackle slaughter with
controlled-atmosphere stunning. When food companies adopt the BCC,
they demonstrate a desire to prioritize animal welfare in their
supply chains and reduce suffering in the food industry. Learn more
at Frankenchickens.com.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/annual-report-ranking-40-major-food-companies-finds-canadians-may-be-right-to-distrust-corporate-sustainability-claims-302290921.html
SOURCE Mercy For Animals
