While the majority of food firms around the world are addressing the issue of animal welfare through policy commitments, the majority have not yet put these commitments into practice, a new study by Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) has found.
The benchmark, originally introduced in 2012, evaluated 150 global food producers, retailers, and food-service companies on their policies and practices regarding farm animal welfare. The initiative is supported by partners Compassion in World Farming and Four Paws, along with a coalition of institutional investors.
In its recent relaunch, BBFAW has implemented stricter assessment criteria, establishing a new standard for improving animal welfare. This includes an enhanced focus on ‘Performance Impact,’ assessing companies’ effectiveness in fulfilling their welfare commitments.
Furthermore, for the first time, companies are questioned about their acknowledgment of the necessity to reduce reliance on animal-based products and explore alternative protein sources.
Recognition of farm animal welfare
According to the BBFAW’s 2023 repot, 95% of global food companies now recognise ‘farm animal welfare’ as a core business issue, with UK firms including Marks & Spencer, Premier Foods and Waitrose as the highest-ranked companies in ‘Tier 2’.
No firms have achieved the highest ‘Tier 1’ status following the toughening of the methodology.
Elsewhere, Marks & Spencer, Danone (FR), Premier Foods, Waitrose, Cranswick and Swiss retailer Migros were along the firms to earn a ‘C’ for ‘Performance Impact’, with no firms achieving a ‘A’ or ‘C’ rating.
Some 19 global food companies, such as Domino’s Pizza and Yum China, the owners of the KFC brand in China, have not yet released a formal farm animal welfare policy.
Meanwhile, 25% of the benchmarked companies acknowledge the necessity of reducing dependence on animal-based foods and exploring alternative protein sources. BBFAW said that 21 companies, including Greggs, Sodexo, and Carrefour, have published time-bound targets in this regard.
‘Doing good business’
“The BBFAW results show that for 95% of food companies protecting farm animal welfare is not about businesses doing good; it’s about good business,” commented Nicky Amos, executive director of the BBFAW. “The Benchmark’s criteria have been strengthened in 2024, so it’s encouraging that several companies, including the three that achieved ‘Tier 2’ status, are leading by example and showing that high levels of progress are possible.
“It’s also highly encouraging that 1 in 4 food companies recognises the need to innovate to reduce reliance on animal-sourced foods as part of long-term plans to create sustainable food supply chains. Today’s analysis shows there’s also a long way to go for the food sector to turn awareness and commitment into demonstrable animal welfare benefits, with large numbers of farmed animals still suffering from inhumane practices such as close confinement or routine mutilations.”
