Aramark has established a new animal welfare policy regulating the treatment and care of farm animals that extends beyond the United States.
Bev Dribin, vice president of public affairs at Aramark, said the company’s focus on responsible sourcing includes a commitment to responsible animal welfare practices, in addition to local sourcing sustainable seafood and other important areas.
Developed in collaboration with the Humane Society of the United States, the new global policy regulates the care and treatment of farm animals, addressing such controversial issues as procedures that are potentially painful to the animals, rapid growth processes and confinement.
It builds on commitments the contract management company has made in the United States over the past several years, such as no longer purchasing foie gras, phasing out pork from animals bred in gestation crates by 2017, and purchasing eggs exclusively from cage free hens by 2020.
“The promotion of responsible purchasing—and animal welfare, in particular—has become increasingly important to Aramark, its clients and its consumers,” said Bev Dribin, a spokeswoman for Aramark. “In creating our Animal Welfare Policy and Principles, we wanted to formalize not only the commitments we have made and address other key animal welfare issues, but also take a comprehensive and forward-looking approach to sustainability practices within our supply chain and how we can work with our suppliers in a more formal way to make progress.”