Animal Welfare

Threats mount against nearly-finalized proposed update to organic animal welfare standards

15-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Hard-fought for and nearly finalized regulations that would strengthen animal welfare standards under the USDA Organic program are at risk of becoming collateral damage from a growing political fight about the ripple effects of regulations and legislation...

Organic Trade Association promises ‘all-out effort’ to block latest threat to proposed animal welfare standards update

26-Jul-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Once again efforts to update and strengthen animal welfare standards under the organic standard are under threat, this time by an amendment to the House Agriculture Appropriations bill that seeks to block funding for the implementation or enforcement...

Health, environment or lactose intolerance: Why do people drink plant-based milk?

05-Jun-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Plant-based milk is one of the most successful categories of alternative protein, predicted to reach a value of $47 Billion by 2030. But why is it so successful? The driving force behind any alternative protein’s success is the motives people have for...

Supreme Court upholds California Prop 12’s ban on ‘unethical’ pork, triggers far-reaching consequences

11-May-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

The US Supreme Court’s decision Thursday to uphold California’s ban of pork that does not meet its heightened animal welfare standards simultaneously is being hailed as a “watershed moment” by animal rights activists and condemned by producers and their...

Dairy cows at higher welfare risk than beef cattle – study

29-Sep-2022 By Teodora Lyubomirova

Dairy herds are more likely to experience worse welfare than cattle raised solely for beef, a multi-national study has revealed.

Coca-Cola et al to pay $21m to settle fairlife animal abuse litigation: 'Animal welfare is and will always be a top priority...'

30-Apr-2022 By Elaine Watson

Coca-Cola owned ultra-filtered milk brand fairlife has agreed to step up animal welfare oversight at supplier farms as part of a $21m agreement to settle a series of lawsuits filed in the wake of allegations of animal abuse at former ‘flagship’ milk supplier...

News In Brief

Animal welfare, organic claims are increasing in the meat, dairy cases – bringing higher sales

27-Sep-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Animal-based meat and dairy manufacturers increasingly are addressing consumer demand for improved animal welfare and environmental impact – helping to defend and grow their sales in the face of encroaching competition from plant-based options.

‘Amicable resolution’ may be near for contested withdrawal of organic animal welfare final rule under Trump administration

25-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Organic Trade Association is optimistic it could reach a “potential amicable resolution” in its ongoing lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture for the withdrawal of the widely popular Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule during...

eggXYt strategy: Israeli startup launches bid to disrupt the egg industry

08-Jan-2021 By Elaine Watson

Industrialized animal slaughter is something the meat & poultry industry has perfected over the years. Most consumers, however, are blissfully unaware that the egg industry also slaughters billions of animals every year, but not to put meat on the...

Higher organic animal welfare standards one step closer after court sides with Organic Trade Association

16-Mar-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Organic Trade Association is optimistic that a final rule elevating animal welfare standards for organic producers will be reinstated after it was withdrawn without warning by the Trump Administration following its passage during the 11th hour of...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Saffron Road serial entrepreneur shares what inspires millennials

11-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even as food and beverage brands are starting to look more closely at Gen Z shoppers to determine what they want and what makes them tick, many are still struggling to pinpoint how best to engage with millennials who Goldman Sachs has dubbed “the most...

Meat Institute revises animal care guidelines

27-Sep-2019 By Aidan Fortune

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) has updated science-based animal care guidelines and audit for the meat industry.

Chobani collaborates with Fair Trade USA to explore new standard and certification for dairy

02-Jul-2019 By Elaine Watson

Chobani has teamed up with Fair Trade USA to explore developing the first Fairtrade standard and certification for the dairy industry as part of its ‘Milk Matters’ program addressing the environmental, economic, and social impacts of its #1 ingredient:...

Fair Oaks scandal continues with new footage and abuse reports

18-Jun-2019 By Beth Newhart

As the fallout from the Fair Oaks Farms animal abuse video shows no sign of slowing, a US expert says viewing animal ‘health’ and ‘welfare’ as one issue is now critical.

Conscious consumerism – the drive behind increased interest in animal welfare – is going mainstream

05-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Once niche, conscious consumerism is emerging as a mainstream trend in 2019 that is influencing more companies to offer products that are not just environmentally-friendly but also animal-friendly, according to Euromonitor International.

Organic stakeholders take their case for heightened animal welfare standards to shoppers in ad

17-Jan-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

“Deeply disappointed” by the US Department of Agriculture’s recent decision to eliminate the new organic standard on animal welfare, stakeholders are taking their case to the mainstream public in an effort to pressure the agency to change its position....

Tyson Foods axes supplier over animal abuse claims

08-Dec-2017 By Aidan Fortune

US meat giant Tyson Foods has severed ties with a chicken farm facing allegations of animal abuse.

Poultry producer Perdue Farms modifies its animal welfare policy

19-Jul-2017 By Adi Menayang

Increasing the number of chicken houses with windows, providing chickens with more space, and raising and studying slower-growing chickens are among priorities Perdue Farms emphasized in its new animal welfare guide.

Perdue Farms’ welfare pledges welcomed

18-Jul-2017 By Aidan Fortune

US poultry producer Perdue Farms has announced the implementation of new animal care improvements across its business.

Pilgrim's Pride ends farmer contract after animal cruelty claim

28-Jun-2017 By Oscar Rousseau

The US’s second largest chicken firm, Pilgrim’s Pride, has launched an investigation into welfare standards after an investigation uncovered alleged animal cruelty at its contract farm in Georgia.

Tyson Foods introduces animal welfare measures

22-Jun-2017 By Oscar Rousseau

Tyson Foods, one of the US’s largest poultry processors, will add on-farm video cameras and pilot humane slaughter methods in a major effort to improve welfare for the 35 million chickens it processes a week.

Natural Products Expo West

Rising animal welfare concerns push farmers & manufacturers to rethink humane agriculture

20-Mar-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

As animal welfare concerns become increasingly mainstream, farmers and manufacturers, such as the natural and organic meat brand Applegate, are optimistically rethinking the scale of and their approach to humanely raised animal agriculture.

Natural Products Expo West

Animal welfare movement ‘parallels’ the opportunities and challenges of the organic movement

15-Mar-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

There is a “tremendous parallel” between the emerging consumer demand for improved animal welfare in the US and the organic food movement, including notable business opportunities and significant challenges, according to Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey.

Sourcing slower-growing chickens pits animal welfare, environmental concerns against each other

11-Jan-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Manufacturers and retailers soon could find themselves between a rock and a hard place as the trend to source slower growing broiler chickens gains momentum with retailers and restaurants.

USDA wants to strengthen animal welfare rules under the organic standard

11-Apr-2016 By Elizabeth Crawford

A proposed regulation that would strengthen and clarify organic animal welfare standards would align consumers’ expectations with production practices and improve their confidence in the organic seal, according to USDA.

Canadian restaurant company announces cage-free poultry policy

23-Feb-2016 By Oscar Rousseau

Canadian restaurant company SIR Corp has announced a commitment to move to a completely cage-free model for its poultry supply chain by September 2016.

Unilever unveils egg-free spread under Hellmann's brand (but it's not calling it 'mayo')

02-Feb-2016 By Elaine Watson

Unilever has unveiled a new Hellmann’s egg-free spread, and an organic mayonnaise range using 100% cage-free eggs, in a move described by one animal welfare group as "a clear indicator that the market is heading towards increased plant-based options...

Companies, producers rise to meet consumer demand for animal welfare

23-Nov-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Food and beverage manufacturers and suppliers are rising to meet the increasing consumer demand for humanely produced animal products – a trend which the American Humane Association celebrated last week on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Whole Foods: PETA’s ‘cynical, publicity-driven’ lawsuit is a waste of the court’s time and taxpayer’s money

29-Sep-2015 By Elaine Watson

Whole Foods Market has challenged allegations by animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), that the standards to which it holds its meat and poultry suppliers “barely exceed common industry practices”.

McDonald's faces criticism after animal welfare video

28-Aug-2015 By Chloe Ryan

Tyson Foods has shunned a Tennessee farm producing chicken for McDonald’s McNuggets after an animal rights group posted gruesome footage online depicting birds being clubbed and stabbed with a spiked pole.

UK's Karro Food agrees deal with US chain Chipotle

16-Jul-2015 By Chloe Ryan

US restaurant chain Chipotle has struck a deal to buy pork from UK-based Karro Food Group in a move driven by animal welfare concerns.

Consumers increasingly value animal welfare and seek out retailers, CPGs that do, too

12-Jun-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumer concern about animal welfare is rising to a level that retailers – and by extension CPG manufacturers and suppliers – can no longer ignore, according to new research by the Food Marketing Institute.

Walmart challenges suppliers over animal welfare and antibiotic use

22-May-2015 By Elaine Watson

Walmart is asking meat and poultry suppliers to stop using antibiotics and antimicrobials for non-therapeutic purposes (eg. to promote growth and boost feed efficiency rather than exclusively for treating sick animals) amid concerns the practice may be...