Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard

Ranking major food companies on their animal welfare performance

The Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard is the leading annual report ranking major food companies operating in Canada on their animal welfare progress.

Find out which companies are leading the way and which are falling behind.

Download the Full Report

What is evaluated?

  • Commitments: Animal welfare policies
  • Transparency: Public progress reporting
  • Progress: Roadmaps for implementation

Which animal welfare issues are most critical?

  • Laying hens confined in cages
  • Mother pigs confined in crates
  • Environment, breed, and slaughter method of chickens raised for meat

Company Rankings

Gold Tier

Company
Score
IKEA
285
Whole Foods
260
Chipotle
230
A&W Canada
220
Starbucks
200

Silver Tier

Company
Score
Campbell’s
195
Panago Pizza
190
Unilever
175
Wendy’s
150

Bronze Tier

Company
Score
Kellogg’s
140
Restaurant Brands International
140
Recipe Unlimited
130
Compass Group
125
McDonald’s
125
Aramark
120
Metro
115
Longo’s
105
Sodexo
105
Nestlé
100
Taco Bell
100

Fourth Tier

Company
Score
Sobeys
95
General Mills
85
Kraft Heinz
80
Loblaws
75
MTY Group
70
Boston Pizza
60
Chairman’s Brands
60
Costco
60
Sysco
60
KFC
55
Pizza Hut
55
Dairy Queen
50
Save-On-Foods
50
Subway
50

Fifth Tier

Company
Score
Couche-Tard
30
Walmart
20

Lowest Tier

Company
Score
Calgary Co-op
0
Domino’s Pizza
0
Federated Co-operatives
0
Foodtastic
0
Mary Brown’s
0

A single corporate animal welfare policy can reduce suffering for millions of animals each year. Companies must uphold their animal welfare commitments and demonstrate transparency toward their fulfillment.

2023 Company Insights

Transparency Among Retailers in Canada

. Reporting Full Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting Full Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting Full Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare
. Reporting Partial Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting Full Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting Full Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare
. Reporting Full Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting Full Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting No Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare
. Reporting Full Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting Partial Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting No Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare
. Reporting Full Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting Partial Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting No Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare
. Reporting Full Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting No Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting No Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare
. Reporting Full Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting No Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting No Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare
. Reporting No Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting No Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting No Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare
. Reporting No Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting No Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting No Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare
. Reporting No Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting No Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting No Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare
. Reporting No Transparency for Cage-Free
Eggs
. Reporting No Transparency for Crate-Free Pork
. Reporting No Transparency for Broiler Chicken Welfare

Cage-Free Progress Reporting in Canada

Foodservice Providers

78% in North America + Roadmap to Fulfillment
84% in Canada
15% in Canada, 69% Globally
8% in Canada

Restaurants

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
85%
40%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%

Consumers Want Companies to Do More

Studies consistently show that Canadians want farmed animals to have higher-welfare conditions—and they want companies to share meaningful information about how animals are currently treated.

More than eight out of 10 Canadians surveyed say that laying hens should be able to roam freely.

More than half of Canadians surveyed don’t believe most green or sustainability claims made by brands.

More than nine out of 10 Ontarians surveyed think that oversight and transparency concerning the conditions for animals at farms are important.

More than eight out of 10 Canadians surveyed think that companies should be transparent about their progress toward meeting their cage-free commitments.

Canada Is Falling Behind
in the Global Shift to Eliminate Cages

Despite a global shift from cages and consumer demand for a cage-free Canada, the country is falling behind in ending some of the worst suffering for hens.

83%
Canada
66%
United States
40%
European Union
25%
United Kingdom
Percentage of egg production in caged housing systems (2022)
people with raised arms icon

Join the movement to help farmed animals in Canada.

Farmed animals trapped in the Canadian food system suffer immensely. Mother pigs crammed in tiny crates, laying hens agonizing in wire cages, and chickens bred for unnatural growth need your help now. You have the power to create meaningful change. Sign up to learn how you can make a difference for animals in Canada today.

hens in a field

We Promote Change

Corporate animal welfare policies can reduce suffering for millions of animals by banning cruel practices common at industrial farms. Mercy For Animals’ corporate engagement work moves the food industry’s biggest players to adopt meaningful standards to protect farmed animals.

If you work for a food company and would like to collaborate to improve its animal welfare standards, please contact us at [email protected].