DENVER – Einstein Bros. Bagels announced on March 23 that it is making a commitment to work with its suppliers, licensees and industry partners to improve the welfare of broiler chickens. The company has committed that by 2024, they will only buy chicken that is produced in alignment with the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) standards.
Some of those standards include:
- Source only chicken breeds approved by GAP as having higher welfare outcomes;
- Source only chickens that are given improved space to reduce stocking;
- Offer improved living environment to include lighting, litter and enrichment;
- Process all chickens more humanely through a multi-step, controlled-atmosphere processing system; and
- Demonstrate compliance with the above standards via a third-party audit.
Einstein is hoping that better living conditions and more stringent processing requirements will give chickens a better quality of life and enhanced quality for customers.
“We at Einstein Bros. have worked hard to elevate our products, from delicious bagels made with simple ingredients to the great products we put on them,” said Kerry Coyne, senior vice president – marketing, R&D and catering, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group. “Making a commitment to ensure all broiler chickens we buy are treated with appropriate welfare standards is an important step in this work to offer the best food we can to our guests.”
