FDBusiness.com

UK-based Noble Foods has successfully moved up into tier one in this year’s global Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare report, becoming the only food producer to join retailers Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Coop Group (Switzerland) in attaining the highest marks.

Noble Foods is the leading supplier of fresh eggs to the major retailers. Each week the individually grades, packs and delivers over 60 million eggs for customers. Noble Foods is also active in the premium, fresh desserts sector.

Now in its fourth year, the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) provides an annual review of how 90 of the world’s leading food companies are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices.

The report, which is compiled in collaboration with leading animal welfare organisations Compassion in World Farming and World Animal Protection and investment firm, Coller Capital, reveals that companies are increasing the importance they attach to farm animal welfare.

For example:

* 69 percent of companies now have published farm animal welfare policies (compared to just 46 percent in 2012).

* 54 percent of companies have published objectives and targets for farm animal welfare (up from 26 percent in 2012).

Compassion in World Farming’s Chief Executive, Philip Lymbery, says: “The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare has proved again this year what a powerful driver for change it is. Leading food companies are not only acknowledging farm animal welfare as a critical business issue, but also reporting and improving upon it year on year. This vital tool is providing an objective movement towards a more honest and compassionate food industry, and we are delighted to be at the forefront of it.”

33 food manufacturers from around the world took part in the annual report, which ranks companies in one of six tiers (six being the lowest). As well as Noble Foods joining the top Tier, 2 Sisters Foods performed well moving up two tiers from Tier 6 to Tier 4.  This achievement was most notably for its policy on antibiotics and a strategy document on poultry following the Campylobacter outbreak in 2014.

Noble Foods has gained top position because of a number of factors but overall because its Animal Welfare Policy is clearly stated and applies to all geographies, relevant species and brands.  The document spells out the company’s requirements for training, auditing, effective system management, reporting on welfare outcome measures and performance indicators and management oversight, in addition to specific welfare issues such as antibiotics, growth promoters and live transportation. Critically, the same performance criteria (which are regarded as minimum requirements) are applied to company operations and those of its contract producers for whom it deploys a team of field support personnel to assist with animal welfare.  In the event of any non-compliance, a process of consultation, veterinary supervision and stakeholder communication is utilised to rectify the situation.