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General Mills refreshes animal welfare policy
Minnesota-based General Mills has released a refresh of the company’s global policy on animal welfare. The changes are based upon the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare:
Steve Peterson, director of sustainable sourcing at General Mills says the company is working towards 100 percent cage free eggs for U.S. operations. Peterson says they realize the avian influenza outbreak has been disruptive to the U.S. egg supply so they will work with suppliers to develop a reasonable timeline for this commitment.
The company is also working to understand the issues of pain relief for dairy cows including de-horning, tail docking and castration. General Mills supports the development and use of polled genetics in the dairy industry. Until dehorning is eliminated, GM supports the use of best management practices including the use of analgesics or anesthetics in dehorning.
In pork production, General Mills supports the development of pregnant sow housing alternatives and has asked suppliers to provide actionable plans by 2017 to end the use of gestation crates in the U.S. pork supply chain. The company is working to address pain relief and potential elimination of castration and tail docking in pigs.
They are also looking at potential animal welfare issues associated with fast-growth in broilers and turkeys.
In addition, in an effort to preserve effectiveness, General Mills supports the FDA’s effort to end the routine use of antibiotic drugs to promote growth in livestock.
Read the new policy here:
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