Heinz champions new animal welfare policies

Sep 15, 2014

Heniz Company, commonly known as Heinz, famous for its ketchup, has joined a series of food companies pledging to do more to strengthen their animal welfare practices.

The shift in policy, is part of the company’s overall sustainable procurement policy, in particular they plan to work with its suppliers worldwide to alter its purchasing practices as it pertains to housing conditions for laying hens.

The company made a commitment saying that by the end of 2015, 20 percent of the eggs they buy will be from cage free farms in the United States. The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International are behind the new policy. Heinz disclosed that it has been working with the groups to introduce the policy change.

In a carefully crafted release, the company said that while it is not a major user of eggs it has decided to pursue a cage-free purchasing choice to meet its egg supply needs.

“Specifically, in the U.K., we use free-range eggs in Heinz Mayonnaise,” Heinz said in statement. “Across all Heinz businesses, we continue to work with our egg suppliers to review and further understand the options and capabilities in cage-free sourcing going forward.”

But the policy extends beyond eggs. The food processor has also vowed to phase out gestation stalls for pregnant sows among its suppliers for pork products. “The company is currently working with its pork suppliers to understand and document their plans to reduce or end the use of gestational crates,” the company said.

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.