PETA Says Safeway to Adopt New Animal Welfare Policies
NORFOLK, Va. -- Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals here said yesterday that Safeway Inc. plans to improve conditions for some of the animals that are killed for its stores, using less cruel means for slaughter, and giving preferences to suppliers that do the same.
By press time, Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway had not returned calls and emails seeking confirmation of PETA's claims.
The animal rights organization said in a statement that Safeway said it would:
- Increase its purchase of chickens and turkeys killed by controlled-atmosphere killing, and give purchasing preference to suppliers that use or switch to this means of slaughter.
- Increase the amount of pig meat it purchases from suppliers that don't use gestation crates-restrictive metal enclosures that confine pregnant pigs-by 5 percent over each of the next three years and give purchasing preference to suppliers that don't use gestation crates.
- Double the amount of cage-free eggs it sells to more than 6 percent by 2010 and give purchasing preference to producers of cage-free eggs
"While we wish that shoppers would stick to the delicious vegetarian options that Safeway has available, the company should be commended for improving the lives and deaths of some of the animals who are killed for its stores," said PETA v.p. Bruce Friedrich.
By press time, Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway had not returned calls and emails seeking confirmation of PETA's claims.
The animal rights organization said in a statement that Safeway said it would:
- Increase its purchase of chickens and turkeys killed by controlled-atmosphere killing, and give purchasing preference to suppliers that use or switch to this means of slaughter.
- Increase the amount of pig meat it purchases from suppliers that don't use gestation crates-restrictive metal enclosures that confine pregnant pigs-by 5 percent over each of the next three years and give purchasing preference to suppliers that don't use gestation crates.
- Double the amount of cage-free eggs it sells to more than 6 percent by 2010 and give purchasing preference to producers of cage-free eggs
"While we wish that shoppers would stick to the delicious vegetarian options that Safeway has available, the company should be commended for improving the lives and deaths of some of the animals who are killed for its stores," said PETA v.p. Bruce Friedrich.