World Animal Protection Commends Panera Bread on Company's Extensive Animal Welfare Progress

NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- World Animal Protection commends Panera Bread on its sweeping progress this year, announced today, to increase the welfare of the farm animals in its U.S. supply chain. Panera Bread's actions in 2014 include sourcing 18% of the more than 70 million eggs the company served from cage-free hens and sourcing more than 80 percent of its beef from grass-fed cows. Panera also announced that as of 2015, it expects to have phased out the use of gestation crates for pregnant sows completely.

"These comprehensive moves by Panera Bread set a strong example for businesses around the world," says Kara Mergl, World Animal Protection's U.S. Manager of Corporate Engagement.  "Panera's increasing use of more humane animal housing systems shows that kinder farming isn't just possible, but crucial. We applaud the positive impact Panera's progress will have on the lives of so many animals."

Over 300 million hens in North America are housed in small battery cages, typically shared between 5-7 birds. As of January 1, 2015, the state of California will require that all eggs sold there come from hens with enough space to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.

"No cage, regardless of its size, allows hens to live naturally," says Kara Mergl. "We thank Panera Bread for taking our research into account and seeking our input on the growing consumer demand for cage-free eggs as they made this important decision to strengthen their animal welfare policies."

Through its Choose Cage-Free campaign, World Animal Protection consults with businesses on transitioning to cage-free eggs and empowers consumers to select humanely produced eggs. World Animal Protection earlier this year announced a global partnership with Nestlé to improve the welfare of the animals in its supply chain; that partnership is the first-ever commitment between an animal welfare NGO and a major food business. World Animal Protection also announced this year a partnership with BRF, Brazil's largest pork producer, through which BRF will transition away from using sow gestation crates. 

NOTES TO EDITORS:
World Animal Protection was formerly known as WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals).

For more information on World Animal Protection's Choose Cage-Free campaign, visit www.choosecagefree.org.

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SOURCE World Animal Protection