Chipotle Announces Latest Evolution in Animal Welfare Practices
January 13 2017 - 2:54PM
Business Wire
Restaurant Chain
Partners with CIWF and HSUS to Improve Treatment of
Chickens
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) announced the latest
evolution in its longstanding commitment to animal welfare — an
initiative that represents a key component of the company’s
mission.
Together with Compassion in World Farming USA and The Humane
Society of the United States, Chipotle has been working to address
growing concerns about how chickens are raised and processed. With
Chipotle purchasing roughly 140 million pounds of chicken annually,
this initiative represents a major undertaking for the company and
its chicken suppliers.
The most critical issues are: welfare outcomes resulting from
fast-growing chickens, environments in the facilities that house
chickens, the space allotted to each chicken, and the manner in
which chickens are slaughtered. To address each of these issues,
using standards aligned with the new requirements of the Global
Animal Partnership’s standard for broiler chickens, Chipotle will
work to achieve the following goals by 2024 or sooner:
a)
Improved breeding. Transition to
strains of birds bred for measurably improved welfare outcomes.
b)
Providing more space. Provide
animals with more space by reducing maximum stocking density to 6
lbs. per square foot.
c)
Living conditions. Provide chickens
with housing that includes improved lighting, litter and floor
enrichments that allow chickens to express natural behaviors.
d)
Slaughter. Process chickens in a
manner that utilizes a multi-step controlled-atmosphere processing
system.
Suppliers will also be required to demonstrate compliance with
these standards via audits by Chipotle’s internal Animal Welfare
team as well as third party auditors.
“This is one more step forward for Chipotle, and one giant leap
for chickens,” said Humane Society of the U.S. Senior Food Policy
Director, Matthew Prescott.
“Chipotle is continuing to walk the talk on animal welfare. We
applaud the company and their chicken suppliers for leading the way
in a commitment that will improve the lives of more farmed animals
than any other food business to date,” said Leah Garces, Compassion
in World Farming USA Executive Director.
“Chipotle has long been at the forefront of animal welfare
issues and enlightened sourcing for our restaurants, and we’re
proud of our commitment to the evolution of our already high
standards for chicken,” added Joshua Brau, Food with Integrity
Program Manager at Chipotle.
Additional information about Chipotle’s chicken protocols is
available at Chipotle.com/chicken-welfare.
ABOUT CHIPOTLE
Steve Ells, Founder, Chairman and CEO, started Chipotle with the
idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food
experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of
burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads made from fresh,
high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking
methods and served in an interactive style allowing people to get
exactly what they want. Chipotle seeks out extraordinary
ingredients that are not only fresh, but that are raised
responsibly, with respect for the animals, land, and people who
produce them. Chipotle prepares its food using whole, unprocessed
ingredients and without the use of added colors, flavors or other
additives typically found in fast food. Chipotle opened with a
single restaurant in Denver in 1993 and now operates more than
2,200 restaurants. For more information, visit Chipotle.com.
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Chipotle Mexican GrillChris Arnold,
303-222-5912chris.arnold@chipotle.com
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