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Animals play a key role in our supply chains, from farming such as cows, pigs and chickens for meat, to the breeding of animals for fur, wool and leather and testing on animals particularly for cosmetics. The UK Government Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs provides key legislation, guidance and advice on protecting animal welfare on farms as well as whilst in transport, at markets and at slaughter. Unfortunately, cruelty to animals is an all too common occurrence within supply chains. Whether it’s through inhumane living conditions, neglect or outright abuse, the treatment of animals is often found to be unacceptable.
Campaigners have recently uncovered extensive cruelty at Kent’s Home Farm Dairy and are actively exposing the abhorrent reality of dairy farming within the UK. Not many, if anyone, has heard of Kent’s Home Farm Dairy, however they supply their milk to Freshways who sell the milk to Costa Coffee.
Viva, who are the UK’s leading vegan campaigning charity have recently exposed the cruelty found at Kent’s Home Farm. Footage shows workers slapping and kicking the cows at the Dairy, which has a herd of over 500 . Their investigation also claims that the farm was “faeces-soaked” and that animals had their legs shackled to prevent them sliding in their poor conditions.
This isn’t the first time that a multi-international organisation have had their supply chains investigated. Last year, Tesco were accused of using suppliers responsible for “environmental disasters” at key environmental sites. Following Tesco’s decision to move suppliers to Avara led to a significant expansion of live stock being reared in the Wye Valley. Avara had previously been under fire over their poultry welfare by Viva.
Last week, we published an article on food shortages due to climate change, but animal welfare in our supply chains is crucial. Organisations can protect themselves by implementing animal welfare policies and guidelines with zero tolerance standards, and conduct regular audits and inspections of suppliers. They can work with third-party organisations to ensure compliance with industry standards, and educate employees and suppliers on the importance of animal welfare. It is essential that suppliers can trace the origins of the product and ensure they are not involved in animal cruelty and mitigate against this to protect the animals but also their reputation.
The Red Tractor Food Assurance is a UK based food safety and quality assurance scheme that covers the entirety of the food supply chain, from food to fork. It ensures that food produce and products are made to a strict standard for food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare. It is important as buyers to ensure that suppliers are part of the Red Tractor scheme because it provides assurance that the food purchased is of a high quality and has been produced in a responsible and sustainable manner. Suppliers that are part of the scheme are regularly audited to ensure they meet high standards, providing additional peace of mind for buyers.
