Aramark, global provider of food, facilities management, and uniforms, recently announced it is building upon already-established animal welfare policies by establishing a new set of animal welfare principles and purchasing guidelines for animal products served across Aramark’s U.S. operations.

The new policy covered several additional components of governing the care and treatment of farm animals, including confinement, procedures, and growth processes.

“Our commitments to health, wellness and sustainability are core to our mission of enriching and nourishing lives and include our pledge to responsible purchasing and animal welfare practices,” said Eric J. Foss, Aramark chairman, president & chief executive officer. “The broad reach of our supply chain provides an opportunity for us to have a significant impact on animal welfare issues and to shift purchasing practices that impact the clients, consumers and communities we serve.”

Under its new global policy, Aramark said it will work with its suppliers to meet the newly expanded policies.

In 2012, Aramark committed to eliminate all pork from animals bred using gestation crates by 2017. The newly established policy addresses issues of pain relief associated with castration and the eventual elimination of tail docking, as well as eventual elimination of the use of ractopamine.

Aramark said it will eliminate all veal from animals confined in crates in the U.S. by 2017, which is the same time period by which the American Veal Association has said it plans to phase out the use of crates. 

Additionally, Aramark announced it will work with suppliers to address issues of pain relief for disbudding and castration procedures, and eventual elimination of tail docking and dehorning. The company said it will also work with suppliers to eliminate the use of hormones or feed additives including recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST), zilpaterol hydrochloride and ractopamine.

In 2011, Aramark stopped purchasing foie gras and the policy remains intact.

Aramark said it will work with suppliers to address animal welfare issues associated with fast growth of broiler chickens and turkeys and support eliminating slaughtering systems that use live dumping and shackling. 

Lastly, Aramark established expectations for its suppliers that include providing progress reports, required third-party documentation, incorporating the animal welfare principles and policy into contracts, and required decisive action in unforeseen cases of animal abuse or cruelty.