Chipotle announces new policies for treatment of poultry by suppliers
Chipotle Mexican Grill announced the latest evolution in its commitment to animal welfare. Together with Compassion in World Farming USA and The Humane Society of the United States, Chipotle has been working to address growing concerns about how chickens are raised and processed.
Using standards aligned with the new requirements of the Global Animal Partnership’s standard for broiler chickens, Chipotle will work to achieve the following goals by 2024 or sooner:
a) Improved breeding. Transition to strains of birds bred for measurably improved welfare outcomes.
b) Providing more space. Provide animals with more space by reducing maximum stocking density to 6 lbs. per square foot.
c) Living conditions. Provide chickens with housing that includes improved lighting, litter and floor enrichments that allow chickens to express natural behaviors.
d) Slaughter. Process chickens in a manner that utilizes a multi-step controlled-atmosphere processing system.
Suppliers will also be required to demonstrate compliance with these standards via audits by Chipotle’s internal Animal Welfare team as well as third party auditors.
“Chipotle has long been at the forefront of animal welfare issues and enlightened sourcing for our restaurants, and we’re proud of our commitment to the evolution of our already high standards for chicken,” added Joshua Brau, Food with Integrity Program Manager at Chipotle.
Additional information about Chipotle’s chicken protocols is available at Chipotle.com/chicken-welfare.
Source: Chipotle
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