ORLANDO, Fla., March 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Darden
Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) today announced an animal welfare
policy that encourages higher welfare outcomes for farm animals in
its supply chain. As part of the policy, Darden intends to form an
external Animal Welfare Advisory Council that the Company will
leverage to continually ensure its animal welfare program is based
on best available science and industry-wide practices, including
developments in outcomes measurement and reporting.
"After a thorough and thoughtful process, which included
extensive benchmarking and input from a variety of stakeholders, we
are adopting an Animal Welfare Policy to articulate Darden's
position and values around the treatment of animals in our supply
chain," said Susan Connelly, Senior
Vice President of Communications and Corporate Affairs for Darden.
"Today's announcement builds on Darden's Food Principles, which
outline our commitment to our guests in the areas of sourcing, food
safety, sustainability and animal welfare."
IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE OUTCOMES
Darden's Animal Welfare Policy encourages higher welfare
outcomes for farm animals in its supply chain. This includes
improved outcomes in the animals' physical and mental well-being
such as increased mobility, increased displays of natural
behaviors, reduced injury and mortality rates, and reduced stress
and fear.
"Taking an outcomes-based approach fosters partnership with
producers," said Kristine Young,
Manager of Sustainability for Darden. "By focusing on the health of
the animal, we can help ensure improvements to overall welfare are
achieved in line with best available science and production
practices."
Darden has identified five priority areas that it believes
represent the greatest opportunity for improving animal welfare
outcomes in its supply chain. The Company, working with its
suppliers, industry peers and its Animal Welfare Advisory Council,
will define metrics in 2020 with the goal that its suppliers will
contribute to measureable, continuous improvements in these
priority areas by 2025:
- Humane Housing
- Avoidance of Pain
- Slaughter Practices
- Farm Animal Transportation
- Responsible Use of Antibiotics
ANIMAL WELFARE COMMITMENTS
Darden also provided the following updates with respect to its
commitments for specific proteins:
- Poultry — Darden is committed to purchasing chicken
raised without the use of medically important antibiotics by 2023
and will continue to work with suppliers on monitoring responsible
antibiotic usage. For all proteins, Darden requires its suppliers
to comply with the FDA guidance that medically important
antibiotics no longer be used with farm animals for growth
purposes, and that all shared-class antibiotics (i.e., those used
for both humans and animals) be used only to treat, prevent and
control disease in farm animals under the supervision of a
veterinarian.
- Pork — Since 2016, Darden has committed to work with
pork suppliers to limit the use of gestation crates for housing
pregnant sows, with a goal to source only gestation-crate free pork
by 2025. The majority of our suppliers today have made a commitment
to housing improvements.
- Eggs — 100% of all egg products purchased by Darden are
sourced from cage-free housing systems.
"Using an outcomes-based strategy for assessing and improving
animal welfare is an emerging approach that is garnering attention
scientifically and from animal welfare organizations," shares Dr.
Janice Swanson, Director of Animal
Welfare and professor at Michigan State
University. "An outcomes-based approach focuses on achieving
an expected welfare outcome for the animal(s) rather than
adherence to a rigid standard. This approach can offer more options
to ensure the humane care of farm animals, especially when there
are significant design differences between housing systems. Darden
is to be commended for implementing an animal welfare program and
employing progressive approaches to assure animal welfare in their
supply chain."
About Darden Restaurants
Darden is a restaurant
company featuring a portfolio of differentiated brands that include
Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard
House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V's. Our people equal
our success, and we are proud to employ 180,000 team members in
more than 1,700 restaurants. Together, we create memorable
experiences for nearly 390 million guests each year in communities
across North America. For more
information, please visit www.darden.com.
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/darden-restaurants-announces-animal-welfare-policy-founded-on-improvements-in-welfare-outcomes-300820510.html
SOURCE Darden Restaurants, Inc.: General