Kraft Heinz signs up to the European Chicken Commitment

Kraft Heinz Europe has signed up to the European Chicken Commitment to establish a sustainable supply chain and responsible farm-to-market ingredient and material sourcing policies.

With the new initiative, the company will expand its animal welfare practices.

Kraft Heinz International Zone president Rafael Oliveira said: “Extensive changes such as these require significant investment of time and resources, industry-wide.

“Kraft Heinz recognises the complexity of this undertaking and looks forward to collaborating with our suppliers, the food industry and other stakeholders to advance these ambitious goals in a way that is sustainable for our collective businesses.”

The company is required to include 100% fresh, frozen and processed chicken in its European supply chain by 2026 to meet various standards of the European Chicken Commitment.

To achieve this objective, Kraft Heinz will work with suppliers and the industry to source chicken products that comply with EU animal welfare laws and regulations.

The company also aims to implement a maximum stocking density of 30kg/m² or less.

Additionally, it aims to meet improved environmental standards, including at least 50 lux of light and two metres of usable perch space and two pecking substrates per 1,000 birds.

Kraft Heinz will also incorporate controlled atmospheric stunning using inert gas or multi-phase systems

In a similar move, last month Conagra Brands announced that it is planning to take initiatives in its supply chain sourcing practices to implement better standards for the treatment of broiler chickens.

The company partnered with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for achieving its new goals.