Posted May 27, 2015
Walmart has announcedstricter guidelines concerning animal welfare and the use of antibiotics in farm animals, according to a Brownfield Ag News article available here. ABC News also published an article available hereand USA Today here.
The new policy eliminates gestation stalls in pork production and battery cages in egg production. The guidelines also restrict antibiotics use to only when medically necessary, with oversight of a veterinarian, and eliminating the use of antibiotics to promote growth in animals.
Concerns are growing that antibiotic overuse is leading resistance to the drugs, making diseases more difficult to treat, according to ABC News.
Shoppers are also influencing changes by expression interest in where their food comes from and if it’s considered healthy or natural.
Walmart said its own research showed 77 percent of its shoppers said they will increase their trust and 66 percent will increase their likelihood to shop at a retailer that improves the treatment of livestock.
Mercy for Animals conducted several investigations from 2012-2014 at pork farms that supply Walmart, finding that pigs were abused and confined in gestation crates for long periods of time. The group applauded Walmart, but said it should make the guidelines mandatory, according to USA Today.
“We urge Walmart to add greater teeth to this announcement by making the new guidelines a requirement rather than a mere recommendation, and to set aggressive timelines for its suppliers to meet its expectations,” MFA President Nathan Runkle said. “While there is still work to be done, Walmart’s announcement is one of the most sweeping animal welfare policies ever adopted by a major food company.”
Walmart did not give a specific timeline for the implementation of those policy changes.
For more information on animal welfare, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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