NEW YORK – Blue Apron is continuing its efforts to improve animal welfare throughout its supply chain. The meal kit company shared the result of its progress to date, in addition to additional goals it has set to continue to improve animal welfare. Also, the company was recognized June 21 at the 2018 Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards hosted by Compassion in World Farming, with the Good Chicken Award, in recognition of the company’s commitment to using higher welfare chicken in its supply chain.

“We believe that a critical component of any successful food company is the responsibility — to our customers, suppliers, and the industry at large — to ensure the health and well-being of animals raised throughout our supply chain,” said Tim Smith, senior vice president and general manager of consumer products at Blue Apron. “We are honored to receive Compassion in World Farming’s Good Chicken Award in recognition of the accomplishments we have made in our broiler chicken supply and are proud to share our comprehensive animal welfare standards and future sourcing commitments with the public.”

“Compassion in World Farming is proud to be working with Blue Apron to drive meaningful, positive change in the welfare of farmed animals,” said Leah Garces, executive director of Compassion in World Farming. “Blue Apron’s pledge demonstrates its genuine commitment to improving the lives of animals raised throughout its supply chain, most notably broiler chickens, and to report openly on its progress.”

Blue Apron’s progress to date in animal welfare includes:

  • Laying hens (eggs) 
    100 percent of Blue Apron’s fresh eggs come from pasture-raised laying hens.
  • Pigs (pork) 
    100 percent of Blue Apron’s pork comes from pigs raised in group sow housing systems or in systems that do not use gestation crates.
  • Cattle (beef) 
    40 percent of Blue Apron’s beef comes from grass-fed cattle that were raised entirely on pasture.
  • Poultry (broiler chickens) 
    Over 10 percent of Blue Apron’s broiler chicken supply is pasture-raised by a Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Step 4-certified producer utilizing higher welfare breeds. Blue Apron’s remaining broiler chicken supply is raised in enhanced welfare indoor systems with 100 percent vegetarian feed and without the use of antibiotics ever.
  • Antibiotics 
    None of the animals in Blue Apron’s supply chain are ever given subtherapeutic antibiotics. Additionally, Blue Apron requires that all its meat, poultry and egg suppliers promptly treat animals in the event that they become sick and their welfare requires it.
  • Growth promoters 
    None of the animals in Blue Apron’s supply chain are ever given growth promoters, such as added hormones, subtherapeutic antibiotics or beta-agonists.

“We are proud of how far we have come in our efforts to implement positive change within the food system,” Smith said. “The ethical and humane treatment of animals raised for food has been a top priority of Blue Apron and we are encouraged by our achievements to date across our supply chain.”

In addition to maintaining its current progress, Blue Apron has set the following goals in the coming years:

  • Pigs (pork) 
    By the end of 2019, Blue Apron is committed to ensuring that 100 percent of Blue Apron’s pork supply will be Certified Humane or GAP Step 1-certified.
  • Cattle (beef) 
    By the end of 2019, Blue Apron is committed to ensuring that 50 percent or more of its beef supply comes from grass-fed cattle raised entirely on pasture.
  • Poultry (broiler chickens) 
    By the end of 2023, Blue Apron is planning to transition to strains of birds that demonstrate higher welfare outcomes that meet the criteria of the RSPCA Broiler Breed Welfare Assessment Protocol or GAP; to reduce stocking density to a maximum of 6 lbs. per sq. ft. and provide birds enriched environments that  meet GAP Step 4 standards on litter, lighting and enrichment; to process broiler chickens in a manner that avoids pre-stun handling and instead utilizes a multi-step controlled atmosphere processing system that induces an irreversible stun; and to demonstrate compliance with the above standards via third-party auditing.
  • All meat and poultry 
    By the end of 2019, 100 percent of Blue Apron’s beef, pork and broiler chicken supply will come from sources that meet GAP Step 1, Certified Humane, or higher standards.

To view the Blue Apron Animal Welfare Policy in its entirety, see here.