Poultry products dominated the recent Compassion in World Farming’s Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards ceremony, held recently in Milan, Italy.
In total, 41 awards were presented to across a range of categories. Twenty of them were Good Egg Awards spanning retailers, manufacturers and food service companies from across the world, with a further four Good Chicken Awards being presented to some of the same businesses.
Companies including McDonald’s, Ferrero, Pret A Manger, Whole Foods Market and KLM were among the recipients of a Good Egg Award for their commitment to using cage-free eggs either as whole eggs or as product ingredients, or both. Whole Foods Market was also presented with a Good Chicken Award, as was Quizini, the Dutch convenience product manufacturer.
Dr. Tracy Jones, director of food business at Compassion in World Farming, said: “The Good Egg Award was launched in 2007 and it’s great to see that after eight years there is real momentum behind it with 20 businesses this year committing to using only cage-free eggs, or cage-free egg products.”
Widening participation
This year’s award presentations saw a number of firsts.
Whole Foods Market is the first U.S.-based retailer to receive a Good Egg Award for sourcing only cage-free eggs for both its whole eggs and ingredients eggs. Its policy extends to its Canadian and U.K. stores. Whole Foods Market U.K. was also given a Good Chicken Award this year for its decision to sell only free range chicken from birds that are slower growing, can roam outside and have more space inside the sheds.
Coop Sweden, the second market leader in the retail sector in Sweden, was the first Swedish retailer to receive a Good Egg Award.
