Major global food brands fail to make animal welfare improvements

The leading global measure of corporate action on farm animal welfare

The 2020 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report, reveals that 59 of 150 companies reviewed rank in the lowest tiers (tiers 5 and 6), indicating that they provide little or no information on their approach to farm animal welfare.

More surprisingly, one in five (31) of these global food companies has no farm animal welfare policy at all.

There is some encouraging news, however: 23 companies moved up at least one tier. Yet the average score for companies overall is just 35%, showing there is much room for improvement.

Chickens crammed together on a factory farm. Image credit: iStock.com/roibu

Brands stepping up for farm animals Leading names such as Marks and Spencer and Noble Foods rank high, reflecting their hard work improving animal welfare in their supply chains.

The most improved companies since the BBFAW was launched in 2012 include Nestlé, Sodexo, Barilla and Waitrose, which have moved up an impressive three tiers since they were first assessed.

The full list of 150 companies

Changes needed 

Company data indicates that more needs to be done to deliver positive welfare impacts for animals, including:

• Only one in eight companies reports on the proportion of laying hens free from beak trimming. Of these, just four companies (3%) report that more than 25% of laying hens in their global supply chains are free from beak trimming. 
• Only one in eight companies reports on the proportion of broilers from breeds that have better welfare due to a more natural growth rate. Of these, just one company (<1%) reports that more than 25% of broiler chickens in its global supply chain are from strains of birds with improved welfare outcomes and with a slower growth potential.

Chickens crammed together in a cage

Some positives for animals

While there is clearly a long way to go, there were some encouraging moves, such as:

• The percentage of companies that report on the proportion of broiler chickens from breeds that grow at a more natural pace resulting in improved welfare outcomes has increased to 13% from just 4% in 2019. While this proportion is still low, this was a new question added to the Benchmark in 2019 and scored for the first time in 2020. 
• Thirty-one percent of companies, compared to just 21% in 2019, report on the proportion of animals (including fin fish) in their global supply chains that is pre-slaughter stunned. While we welcome this improvement, the vast majority of companies still do not report this data.

Motivation for lasting change

Consumer interest and growing momentum for companies to take an interest in animal welfare shows why the world’s most influential food companies should be willing to change and continue to improve year on year.

Steve McIvor, World Animal Protection CEO, said:

“COVID-19 has brought new challenges like never before, but despite this, we must continue to accelerate and drive forward the animal welfare movement. We must do better for the world’s 50 billion animals that are factory farmed each year, causing immense suffering. Not only do the cruel practices of intensive farming subject animals to misery, but they expose us to potential diseases and risks too. The BBFAW tool exposes those companies that care for animals, and those who do not.

“Animal cruelty is becoming more and more important for consumers – producers, supermarkets and restaurants would be foolish to ignore it. This tool brings all the commitments together in one place, providing a clear and transparent scorecard for all to see.”

The future of BBFAW

From April 2021, we will hand over the BBFAW baton to Four Paws International. We, alongside Compassion in World Farming, have steered BBFAW since its inception in 2012 by providing the vision, dedication, technical expertise and financial support.

Our organisation will continue to take an active interest as Four Paws and Compassion in World Farming support and drive forward the programme as it enters its second decade.