Whole Foods Market Receives Global Commendations for its Efforts on Animal Welfare
Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) has recently been recognized with a Global Good Egg Award from Compassion in World Farming and a Good Sow Commendation, for the company’s animal welfare practices.
Whole Foods has been actively involved in developing and selling produce that are natural and organic, but also developed with focus on environmental impacts and animal welfare.
According to Margaret Wittenberg, global vice president of Quality Standards at Whole Foods Market, "We are able to contribute to a significant and positive impact on animal agriculture thanks to the partnerships we have with our producers, who put equally strong emphasis on the lives and welfare of their farm animals as they do on ensuring high-quality products".
She further stated, “Whole Foods Market is proud to receive these awards in recognition of our commitment to improving farm animal welfare. We require all shell eggs sold in our stores and all eggs used in our kitchens and bakeries to be cage-free. And through our adoption of the 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating Program, the lives of sows associated with our fresh meat program have been greatly improved".
The Good Sow Commendation recognizes companies that use or are committed to using higher welfare systems for sows. Specifically, the award’s criteria require that animals have no confinement (sow stalls and farrowing crates), and that adequate bedding material is provided throughout life. The Good Egg Award recognizes companies that use or are committed to using cage-free eggs or egg products.
Since the year 2004, Whole Foods Market has been following policies that promote compassion and welfare especially in farm environments for all animals. The fresh eggs sold in dairy cases at Whole Foods since 2004, and the eggs being used in Whole Foods kitchens, commissaries and bakeries since 2005, have come from suppliers that follow cage-free policies for raising and executing production methods.
Also all fresh pork sold at Whole Foods Market comes from farms that have been certified by the Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step Animal Welfare program, which outlines and requires more than 100 species-specific husbandry and management practices that promote farm animal welfare.
Whole Foods Market was recently given the Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards, at the Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards ceremony in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday, June 9. Compassion in World Farming confers this award on leading companies, which through their policies or commitments, positively affect animal welfare.
About Whole Foods Market®
Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) is America’s first certified organic produce retailer. The company’s motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™, describes its dedication towards ensuring customer satisfaction and health, promoting environmental improvement, enhancing shareholder value and improving team excellence and happiness. Founded in Austin, Texas in the year 1980, Whole Foods Market has now been voted by Health magazine as “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store”.
In the past year, Whole Foods clocked sales upwards of $14 billion. Whole Foods currently employs 88,000 workers and has 420 stores spread around in Canada, United Kingdom and the United States.
References:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150610005253/en
Whole Foods has been actively involved in developing and selling produce that are natural and organic, but also developed with focus on environmental impacts and animal welfare.
According to Margaret Wittenberg, global vice president of Quality Standards at Whole Foods Market, "We are able to contribute to a significant and positive impact on animal agriculture thanks to the partnerships we have with our producers, who put equally strong emphasis on the lives and welfare of their farm animals as they do on ensuring high-quality products".
She further stated, “Whole Foods Market is proud to receive these awards in recognition of our commitment to improving farm animal welfare. We require all shell eggs sold in our stores and all eggs used in our kitchens and bakeries to be cage-free. And through our adoption of the 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating Program, the lives of sows associated with our fresh meat program have been greatly improved".
The Good Sow Commendation recognizes companies that use or are committed to using higher welfare systems for sows. Specifically, the award’s criteria require that animals have no confinement (sow stalls and farrowing crates), and that adequate bedding material is provided throughout life. The Good Egg Award recognizes companies that use or are committed to using cage-free eggs or egg products.
Since the year 2004, Whole Foods Market has been following policies that promote compassion and welfare especially in farm environments for all animals. The fresh eggs sold in dairy cases at Whole Foods since 2004, and the eggs being used in Whole Foods kitchens, commissaries and bakeries since 2005, have come from suppliers that follow cage-free policies for raising and executing production methods.
Also all fresh pork sold at Whole Foods Market comes from farms that have been certified by the Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step Animal Welfare program, which outlines and requires more than 100 species-specific husbandry and management practices that promote farm animal welfare.
Whole Foods Market was recently given the Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards, at the Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards ceremony in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday, June 9. Compassion in World Farming confers this award on leading companies, which through their policies or commitments, positively affect animal welfare.
About Whole Foods Market®
Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) is America’s first certified organic produce retailer. The company’s motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™, describes its dedication towards ensuring customer satisfaction and health, promoting environmental improvement, enhancing shareholder value and improving team excellence and happiness. Founded in Austin, Texas in the year 1980, Whole Foods Market has now been voted by Health magazine as “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store”.
In the past year, Whole Foods clocked sales upwards of $14 billion. Whole Foods currently employs 88,000 workers and has 420 stores spread around in Canada, United Kingdom and the United States.
References:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150610005253/en
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