• Ending the use of lower-welfare breeds
• Ending extreme crowding and providing each chicken more floor space
• Keeping chicken litter clean enough to prevent eye sores, flesh burns and respiratory distress
• Improving lighting standards, including at least six hours of darkness each night and sufficient light during the day to decrease illness and disease
• Ending live-shackle slaughter in favor of the less cruel method of controlled-atmosphere stunning
Two leading organizations dedicated to animal welfare, Mercy for Animals and World Animal Protection, have publicly commended Nestlé on its commitment.
“We congratulate Nestlé USA on this commitment to significantly improve the lives of millions of chickens in the United States. As the world's largest food company, Nestlé has the power to make large-scale changes to improve the lives of farm animals,” said Dr. Martin Cooke, International Head of Corporate Engagement at World Animal Protection in a statement. “We are pleased to have worked with Nestlé in helping to develop the company's animal welfare guidelines, and we look forward to following the company’s progress as they implement these transformative changes for the chickens in their supply chain.”
“Nestlé USA has taken a big step toward ending many of the worst forms of animal abuse in the factory farming industry,” said Brent Cox, vice president of corporate outreach with Mercy For Animals. “This new policy will significantly reduce suffering for millions of animals each year.”
