Mercy For Animals’ newly released Frankenchickens Report exposes which major food companies are perpetuating some of the cruelest practices in the chicken industry. In the past decade, more than 200 major food companies in North America have adopted the Better Chicken Commitment, a set of meaningful science-based standards to improve the welfare of chickens raised for meat. Most of these companies had a self-imposed deadline of 2024 to fulfill the standards.
Are Companies Keeping Their Promises?
As we approach year-end 2024, our new report analyzes the progress being made across various sectors of the food industry. Some companies—like Sprouts Farmers Market, Compass Group, Aramark, and Natural Grocers—have demonstrated leadership in transparency and are on the path to fulfilling their commitments. Notably, major chains such as Chipotle, Starbucks, Subway, Panera Bread, and Burgerville are falling behind, breaking their promises to the public and ignoring the welfare standards they claim to follow.
Horrific Suffering Revealed at Major Chicken Suppliers
Earlier this year, Mercy For Animals released investigations into a Chipotle supplier and Pilgrim’s Pride contract farm that show the gruesome reality for billions of birds every year. Meanwhile restaurants and retailers continue to humanewash their practices by claiming a commitment to animal welfare.
Changing the chicken industry remains a top Mercy For Animals priority. We will continue to expose the reality of life and death for animals at factory farms and slaughterhouses, work alongside companies to make tangible progress for animals, and hold corporations accountable to their stakeholders through public reports, scorecards, and other exposés.
What You Can Do
See the full report to learn more about the nightmare modern-day chickens endure, the Better Chicken Commitment, and the status of companies’ transitions to higher chicken welfare standards.
Don’t forget to take action to ensure companies like Whole Foods, Caesars Entertainment, Starbucks, and Subway don’t get away with the worst animal cruelty.
