Advancing animal welfare in the food industry amid rising meat consumption

Global demand for animal products is steadily increasing with every passing year. According to research, demand for animal meat has doubled in the last three decades. This figure is only expected to grow; by 2050, global meat consumption is expected to hit around 460 million to 570 million tons. 

Meat production has naturally seen an upward trend, as well. Research shows that more than 350 million tons of meat are produced each year. Total production has more than quadrupled since 1961, with the highest producers being housed in Asia. 

There are many drawbacks to such a massive production of meat — its direct impact on increasing greenhouse gas emissions, for example, are well documented. Alongside this is a growing number of animals being slaughtered for meat, with most being kept in inhumane conditions. 

Of these, chickens are among the highest number of animals being slaughtered. Many are kept in restricted conditions; around 70% of laying hens spend their lives in battery cages. Other animals raised for slaughter include cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, the majority of which are confined in factory farms. Researchers estimate that around 74% of land livestock — amounting to approximately 23 billion animals — globally are factory-farmed. 

Upholding animal welfare in the food industry

While many animals continue to live in confined conditions, more voices are advocating for their humane treatment. Consumers in Europe are demanding better animal welfare standards for farmed animals. Some have indicated a willingness to pay for higher standards for animal welfare. 

Of these, the Five Freedoms have formed the backbone of animal welfare practices in the industry since the 1960s. These are detailed as follows: 

1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst
2. Freedom from Discomfort
3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease
4. Freedom to Express Normal Behavior
5. Freedom from Fear and Distress

Other organizations have similarly published other standards that are adopted or practised in certain conditions. For example, The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) initially set standards focusing on animal transport, slaughter, and disease control. More recently, they developed new standards for production systems specific to beef, dairy cattle, broiler chickens, and pigs since 2012.

While the majority of the food industry’s largest players remain silent on the issue, some companies have come forward with a comprehensive set of welfare standards for the animals within their supply chain. 

JDE Peet’s

JDE Peet’s is a global company that specializes in the production and distribution of coffee and tea. Established from the merger of Jacobs Douwe Egberts and Peet’s Coffee, the company operates a vast portfolio of over 50 leading brands, serving millions of consumers in more than 100 countries. 

In its animal welfare policy, JDE Peet’s makes clear its recognition of the Five Freedoms. It further outlines the following commitments with regard to animal welfare for its global supply chain: 

• Sourcing eggs and egg ingredients from cage-free hens by 2027 
• Requiring direct chicken suppliers to provide adequate space and enriched environments that meets Global Animal Partnership’s standards by 2025
• Requiring all pork ingredients to adhere to industry recommended practices, including that of gestation crates, surgical castration and tail docking and the provision of sufficient environmental enrichment materials and litter by 2025
• Requiring all beef ingredients to adhere to industry recommended practices including prohibiting surgical castration without the use of painkillers and tail docking while providing sufficient environmental enrichment materials and litter by 2025
• Ensuring all dairy products adheres to industry recommended practices related to confinement stalls (veal crates), tail docking, de-budding and castration by 2025

The company further outlines an intolerance of animal cruelty, declares that it does not routinely test on animals, sets standards for antibiotics and hormones and requires slaughtering to be conducted with minimal pain, distress, fear and suffering. 

AEON Malaysia

Comprehensive animal welfare policies are increasingly being drafted in every corner of the world — including in Malaysia. Known for its wide range of products and services, AEON Malaysia operates numerous hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores throughout the country. It is part of the global AEON Group based in Japan. 

AEON Malaysia similarly recognizes the Five Freedoms, with the addition of disallowing products from farm animals subject to genetic engineering or cloning or the use of growth-promoting substances, among others. 

Its animal welfare policy further details standards for eggs, poultry, fish, pork and beef: 

• All eggs are to be sourced from cage-free hens 
• All chicken suppliers must maintain a maximum stocking density and a prohibition on broiler cages, provide birds-enriched environments, avoiding pre-stun handling and adopting breeds that demonstrate higher welfare outcomes
• All seafood suppliers must be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) or equivalent and follow WOAH standards
• Pork must be supplied from pigs whose parent stock were not confined in individual sow stalls, gestation or farrowing crates
• Beef production must avoid surgical castration without painkillers and tail docking, and sufficient environmental enrichment materials and litter should be provided

The company has won praise in Malaysia and the wider Asia region for such a policy.