Mercy for Animals praises Nestlé animal welfare commitment
August 21, 2014 | 05:46 PM
Mercy for Animals, a group that earlier released a hidden-camera video of a Nestlé dairy supplier in Wisconsin showing workers abusing cows, on Thursday praised Nestlé for promising to improve farmed animal welfare across its global supply chain.
Mercy for Animals said that the Nestlé initiative, covering more than 90 countries, “may be the most comprehensive and far-reaching animal welfare policy of its kind.”
Benjamin Ware
The Nestlé initiative, in the form of a partnership agreement with NGO World Animal Protection, will include “spacing requirements for the rearing pens of certain species of animals, such as pigs and cows, to ensure they are not cramped and can engage in normal animal behavior ... using veterinary practices that reduce pain, or avoiding the practices in the first place by different animal husbandry practices,” the company said in a news release.
“We know that our consumers care about the welfare of farm animals and we, as a company, are committed to ensuring the highest possible levels of farm animal welfare across our global supply chain,” said Benjamin Ware, the company’s manager of responsible sourcing.
Mike Baker
“Our decision to work with Nestlé is based upon their clear commitment to improving animal welfare and the lasting change this can have on millions of farm animals around the world,” said Mike Baker, the CEO of World Animal Protection.
Mercy for Animals described Nestlé commitment in more graphic terms.
“Nestlé has announced it will eliminate many of the cruelest forms of institutionalized animal abuse from its supply chain, including an end to the practices of tail docking and dehorning of dairy cattle, an end to the castration of piglets without painkillers, and the phase-out of growth promoters for poultry,” Mercy for Animals said.
Nathan Runkle
The group said Nestlé “has also committed to ending the intensive confinement of baby calves in veal crates, pregnant pigs in gestation crates, and egg-laying hens in battery cages.”
“Mercy For Animals praises Nestlé for stepping up to the plate to improve the lives of farmed animals on a global level,” said Nathan Runkle, the organization’s president. “We are heartened that Nestlé not only took notice, but also took action, after egregious cruelty was exposed at one of its dairy suppliers.
“With Nestlé’s announcement, it's never been clearer that the days are numbered for many of the factory-farming industry’s cruelest practices. It's now time for Walmart, McDonald’s, and others to stop dragging their feet and use their power and influence to reduce the needless pain and suffering animals endure on factory farms.”
▪ Nestlé Responsible Sourcing Guideline
▪ The Nestlé Supplier Code
▪ — July 2014 Appendix
▪ World Animal Protection
▪ Mercy for Animals
Mercy for Animals said that the Nestlé initiative, covering more than 90 countries, “may be the most comprehensive and far-reaching animal welfare policy of its kind.”
The Nestlé initiative, in the form of a partnership agreement with NGO World Animal Protection, will include “spacing requirements for the rearing pens of certain species of animals, such as pigs and cows, to ensure they are not cramped and can engage in normal animal behavior ... using veterinary practices that reduce pain, or avoiding the practices in the first place by different animal husbandry practices,” the company said in a news release.
“We know that our consumers care about the welfare of farm animals and we, as a company, are committed to ensuring the highest possible levels of farm animal welfare across our global supply chain,” said Benjamin Ware, the company’s manager of responsible sourcing.
“Our decision to work with Nestlé is based upon their clear commitment to improving animal welfare and the lasting change this can have on millions of farm animals around the world,” said Mike Baker, the CEO of World Animal Protection.
Mercy for Animals described Nestlé commitment in more graphic terms.
“Nestlé has announced it will eliminate many of the cruelest forms of institutionalized animal abuse from its supply chain, including an end to the practices of tail docking and dehorning of dairy cattle, an end to the castration of piglets without painkillers, and the phase-out of growth promoters for poultry,” Mercy for Animals said.
The group said Nestlé “has also committed to ending the intensive confinement of baby calves in veal crates, pregnant pigs in gestation crates, and egg-laying hens in battery cages.”
“Mercy For Animals praises Nestlé for stepping up to the plate to improve the lives of farmed animals on a global level,” said Nathan Runkle, the organization’s president. “We are heartened that Nestlé not only took notice, but also took action, after egregious cruelty was exposed at one of its dairy suppliers.
“With Nestlé’s announcement, it's never been clearer that the days are numbered for many of the factory-farming industry’s cruelest practices. It's now time for Walmart, McDonald’s, and others to stop dragging their feet and use their power and influence to reduce the needless pain and suffering animals endure on factory farms.”
▪ Nestlé Responsible Sourcing Guideline
▪ The Nestlé Supplier Code
▪ — July 2014 Appendix
▪ World Animal Protection
▪ Mercy for Animals
