Whole Foods adopts humane chicken practices

Whole Foods Market has become the first major U.S. retailer to sign on to all parts of the Better Chicken Commitment, a set of broiler welfare standards set in the food industry, and is eliminating the industry practice of live-shackle slaughtering of chickens across all of its chicken suppliers, according to The Humane League, an international nonprofit organization that works to fight abuse of animals raised for food.

The organization said Whole Foods will phase out live-shackle slaughter (a process of live chickens held upside down in metal shackles before being cut and cooked, per the group) for all of its 487 U.S. locations by 2026. The group said Whole Foods is the first national U.S. retailer to adopt all standards of the Better Chicken Commitment, which includes a limit on stocking density; litter, lighting, and enrichment requirements; third-party auditing; a shift away from using rapid-growth chicken breeds with significant health issues; and a transition from live-shackle slaughter to controlled atmosphere stunning.

The Humane League said the Whole Foods move joined Aldi’s recent pledge to adopt the European Chicken Commitment for its locations in Germany (its largest market) and Spain, and that the discount powerhouse is in talks to publicly support the Better Chicken Commitment.

"Every year, billions of chickens suffer within our food system, and much of that chicken is eventually sold in supermarkets. This groundbreaking commitment by Whole Foods sets a precedent for the US retailer industry,” said David Coman-Hidy, president of The Humane League. “Whole Foods is a company that prides itself on natural ingredients and strict quality standards, so we applaud them for taking this necessary next step to improve the conditions of the animals within their supply chain. I foresee this to be the first of many improvements to come within our nation’s retail industry to ensure chickens will see a better life in the future."