Comments on: Going Where No Food Service Company Has Dared to Go Before

By: Mimi

Mimi — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:04:38 +0000

Thank you for being responsible and setting a positive example!

By: Kerry

Kerry — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:53:58 +0000

Thank you for being responsible!

By: A kinder, gentler hot dog

A kinder, gentler hot dog — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:39:19 +0000

[...] the company said, it will stop serving all pork produced using the cruel and inhumane practice of gestation crates [...]

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:14:03 +0000

Dr. Temple Grandin is clear on her view on gestation crates stating “gestation stalls have got to go” and saying that confining pigs in these crates is like forcing someone to live “in an airline seat.” Dr. Grandin is certainly one of the most outspoken opponents of gestation crates and is even quoted in McDonald’s press release praising the company for eliminating these crates in their supply chain.

I think most people within agriculture agree that we’re seeing an end to the gestation crate. Before 2002, no states banned gestation crates. Since then, eight states have banned gestation crates including large pork producing states like Colorado, Michigan, and Ohio. Before 2002, no major food companies have made policies opposed to gestation crates. Since then, top restaurant and grocery store chains in the country have issued purchasing preferences for producers who don’t use gestation crates or demanded crates be eliminated from their supply chain. Before 2002, no major pork producer had any plans to move away from gestation crates. Since then, major pork manufacturers Smithfield, Hormel, Cargill, and Maxwell Farms have developed policies to move away from crates. I think the writing is on the wall on this issue.

Congratulations to Bon Appetit for speeding up the process to ensure momma pigs have a better life. Keep up your great work!

By: Brent P

Brent P — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:48:58 +0000

So what’s the middle ground to ensure the safety of the sows? As someone who spends their time working with farm animals everyday, I work to ensure each and everyone of them gets the best care possible. I’ve never been on a farm that puts in the animal’s health and well-being is in danger. I’ve spent many hours listening to animal scientists and other animal behaviorists including Temple Grandin and use the information that they give us to make our farms better. Those experts advocate the use of gestation crates. Hopefully, you will continue to support smaller farmers like myself, but will never be able to get a certification by one of your third party auditors, because we follow the top experts in the fields of animal care and not the random rules by what they feel is good management.

By: Gareth

Gareth — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:04:49 +0000

Fantastic move, quite a few cages and restaurants in NZ and Australia have been doing this with success, it’s well received and people don’t begrudge the extra cost as it tastes better and is more Eco friendly.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:58:43 +0000

I agree with Earl!

By: bonappetit

bonappetit — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:53:41 +0000

Hi Earl: Thanks for stopping by. But we do talk to hog farmers all the time — we buy from not just the MIllers, above, but from dozens of small farmers around the country in our Farm to Fork program. We also talked to large producers before we made this announcement. We believe firmly that there is a middle ground between gestation crates and Boss Hog Bullying.

By: Major food service company to go humane | Humaneitarian.org

Major food service company to go humane | Humaneitarian.org — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:44:05 +0000

[...] suspects there isn’t enough supply of these products to meet their demand, as they say in this press release. But they’re going forward anyway, and will hopefully take other food service companies along [...]

By: Earl Williams

Earl Williams — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:40:28 +0000

It is too bad that Bon Appetite listens to HSUS without talking to people that have actually raise hogs.

When I was a pork producer, I housed my sows (mother pigs) in outside pens, which is the only realistic alternative to individual gestation crates. “Boss Hog” is a real life term that describes what happens when one sow bullies the rest of the sows in the pen. Those hogs on the bottom of the social ladder were bullied, beaten up, and sometimes died as a result of their treatment by the boss hog. Is that more humane than gestation crates that protect those animals and ensures that each sow get individual attention and care?