Food Companies, Schools Implement Humane Treatment Policies Covering Farm Animals

An alliance of six of six large U.S. school districts (Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Los Angeles, New York and Orlando, Fla.) earlier in December pledged to abide by chicken procurement guidelines that proscribe purchase of chicken that has been treated with antibiotics, raised on feed containing animal by-products or kept in overcrowded cages or coops. Panera Bread, Carnival, Campbell’s, and other big companies have all banned the use of confining gestation crates for pigs. Since 2005, Unilever has required cage-free eggs for Hellman's mayonnaise. California has the strictest humane treatment requirements for egg-laying hens, veal calves and pregnant pigs, though national standards remain elusive.