“Today, Compass is a leader in farm animal welfare policies for food businesses,” Compassion in World Farming said in a statement.
The organization cited Compass Group’s commitment to work with suppliers to address fast growth rates and poor living conditions of broilers. “By working together, Compass Group is helping to further the goals of Compassion’sBetter Chicken Initiative,” the organization said.
“This is the first time we’ve seen a food business tackle the all-too-often avoided issues of broiler chicken welfare…in one transparent policy,” Compassion’s US Director Leah Garces said. “When a food giant like Compass Group commits to higher animal welfare, they pave the way for other companies to follow suit.”
In August 2005, Compass Group USA, the Environmental Defense Fund and Smithfield Foods announced an agreement to reduce the use of antibiotics in pork production. Since then, Compass Group, based in Charlotte, said it has taken a leadership role within the foodservice industry regarding farm-animal welfare.