Whole Foods Market recently announced it will phase out live-shackle slaughter from its chicken suppliers at all U.S. locations by 2026, becoming the first major retailer to follow the Better Chicken Commitment. These ethics standards already have support from Blue Apron, Chipotle, Burger King and small and local grocers. The reason? Consumers want them.
“You now have larger companies paying even more attention to how they slaughter, and are investing in large-scale, humane slaughter methods — whether it’s CO2 stunning or other methods,” says Chris Fuller, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) meat consultant and processing plant advisor at Fuller Consulting, in San Diego County, Calif. “They want the highest quality process, best technology and things done right.”