ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld Parks
& Entertainment, a leading theme park and entertainment
company, today announced a new responsible food sourcing policy
that will mean humanely raised and sustainably harvested food at
all 12 parks, including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Sesame
Place.
"We are committed to responsibly sourcing food for our guests
and ambassador team members within our parks," said SeaWorld Parks
& Entertainment President and CEO, Joel
Manby. "This announcement builds on SeaWorld's existing
sustainable practice, and this new commitment fulfills goals
established with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in March of this
year."
"As a company committed to conservation and the welfare of
animals, we believe our food procurement can and should reflect a
focus on the welfare of animals, a healthier planet and healthier
people," said Chief Procurement Officer Norbert Dean.
There are three new commitments SeaWorld announced:
- By the end of 2016, SeaWorld will purchase all pork cuts, such
as ribs and loins, from suppliers who have announced a commitment
to humane farming practices like those who have published targets
for conversion to group housing for sows;
- All eggs will be sourced from cage-free chickens by the end of
2017 – including shell and liquid eggs
- The company is expanding park menus to include more plant-based
options.
The responsible sourcing policy confirms and enhances existing
commitments already in place, including:
- A continuing commitment to serving seafood sourced from either
sustainably managed fisheries or aquaculture in all park
restaurants and catering events, as well as ambassador team
dining;
- Sustainable sourcing of fish fed to the fish-eating
(piscivorous) animals. This includes purchasing food from
responsibly managed fisheries that the company closely reviews for
nutritional quality and safety. SeaWorld avoids purchasing fish
that have been caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life
or the environment.
- A commitment to source produce from local farms when and where
possible;
- A commitment to sustainably source all coffee served to our
guests and ambassadors.
To learn more about the company's food sourcing policy, go to
SeaworldEntertainment.com.
About SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
SeaWorld
Parks & Entertainment™ is a leading theme park and
entertainment company providing experiences that matter and
inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our
world. The company is one of the world's foremost zoological
organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training,
husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for
what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in
the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The
company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial
animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal
of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team
has helped more than 28,000 animals in need over the last 50
years.
The company owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized brands
including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens® and Sea
Rescue®. Over its more than 50-year history, the company
has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and regional
theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its
one-of-a-kind zoological collection of over 800 species of animals.
The company's theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows
and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver
memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its
guests.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary
of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company. Visit
www.seaworldentertainment.com for more.
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SOURCE SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment