Changes to animal welfare policy in the last year by giants such as Starbucks, Aramark and — most recently — Walmart reflect the fact that farm animal welfare is a growing issue of importance in this country as consumers seek food choices that reflect their values.
Survey data backs up this sentiment. In a 2014 survey of 300 shoppers by BFG Communications (http://bit.ly/farmtoplate0815), 76 percent said their concern about the foods they eat had increased from three years ago. And 90 percent of respondents to American Humane Association’s most recent Humane Heartland Farm Animal Welfare Survey said they were “extremely” interested in supporting the humane treatment of farm animals, up five points from the previous year.