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Tyson launches animal welfare audit program

Tyson Foods has launched a new animal welfare auditing program that will monitor the treatment of animals at livestock and poultry farms that supply the company.

The audits—called the Tyson FarmCheck Program—will check on such things as proper human-animal interaction, worker training and animal access to food and water. 

The FarmCheck program has begun on a trial basis on some of the three-thousand independent hog farms that supply the company.  Tyson says the program will eventually be expanded to include its poultry and cattle suppliers as well.

The announcement comes as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has been pressuring Tyson to move away gestation stalls for pregnant sows.  But Tyson says the auditing program is not in response to pressure from HSUS or other organizations. 

In a statement, Tyson president and CEO Donnie Smith says the company knows consumers want assurances that their food is being produced responsibly. 

Tyson also announced that it is developing a new Farm Animal Well-Being Research Program.  Smith says the purpose is to review existing research, as well as fund and promote additional research, that the company believes will lead to continued improvements in animal raising methods.

The FarmCheck and research programs will be overseen by a new Animal Well-Being Advisory Committee.  Tyson says the external committee will include experts in farm animal behavior, health, production and ethics.