Supermarket retailer Carrefour has announced that it won’t buy eggs from farmers who abuse their chickens. The retailer says that it will only buy and sell eggs produced under ‘humane’ conditions.
This is after Carrefour’s parent firm, Dubai-based Majid Al Futtaim, announced it will only be sourcing eggs from chickens that have not been caged, also known as cage-free eggs for its Carrefour supermarkets.
The announcement is part of the firm’s bid to adhere to a new policy adopted by the global chain store to push for better animal welfare and drive healthy consumption for its customers.
“We will be putting in place audits to see if the policy is being implemented and if they need assistance because we understand it is a process,” Majid Al Futtaim’s head of marketing and communications East Africa, Kelvin Macharia said. “Anything that is private label is what we have extensive control over. We will have oversight from beginning to the end.”
According to a report that appeared in a local business newspaper, Majid Al Futtaim signed the Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Policy under The Humane League. This policy commits companies to promoting alternative and sustainable housing systems, such as cage-free, outdoor access, free-range systems and organic feeds.
“Majid Al Futtaim’s announcement to exclusively source cage-free eggs for all its Carrefour retail operations will help to reduce the suffering of countless hens,” said Aaron Ross, Vice President of Policy and Strategy at The Humane League. “This policy demonstrates that Majid Al Futtaim has true courage of their convictions, cutting-edge market intelligence, and strong relationships with customers and suppliers.” This policy will be adopted gradually before the target in 2030.
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“Under our long-held commitment to leading in all the markets in which we operate, Majid Al Futtaim Retail is proud to provide its customers with products that comply with the highest quality and safety standards, and that have been produced by socially and environmentally responsible means,” Majid Al Futtaim Retail said in a statement.
