Perdue, the 4th largest poultry producer in the United States and the largest supplier of chicken raised without routine antibiotics to the healthcare sector, announced yesterday its commitment to addressing animal welfare, improving farmer relations, and increasing transparency.

Perdue led the industry in removing antibiotics from poultry production and is now taking action to address the conditions in which the birds are raised. These actions are backed by the growing demand from healthcare food service and consumers for sustainably-produced products, and is an impetus for further investment.

Reexamining their menus, healthcare facilities throughout the country are focusing on healthier, sustainably sourced options. These facilities are contributing to the collective demand for more socially and environmentally responsible meat production practices, and are directing their purchasing dollars accordingly.

Health Care Without Harm commends Perdue’s efforts to address the human and environmental impacts of their production practices but recommends the commitment to increase access to outdoors and switching to slower-growing breeds be taken beyond research and into implementation. Whole Foods and foodservice provider Bon Appétit Management Company have already made commitments to slow-growing breeds. These changes are essential to address the root causes for confinement and natural resource pollution and will contribute to the health of farmer workers and the overall community.

We look forward to learning more about the systems for reporting and transparency Perdue puts into place to track and document their progress towards these goals. Third-party audit processes address social, environmental, and animal welfare production practices. Rigorous and independent auditing such as the process conducted by Global Animal Partnership or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic program are among the best and serve as a guide for healthcare facilities to make informed purchasing decisions.

We encourage Perdue to expand its network of advising organizations to include those from within the public health sector. We call on all other major poultry producers, including Tyson and Pilgrim’s Pride, along with other producers to follow Perdue’s lead and take steps to address these key issues. Health Care Without Harm and our network of leadership healthcare facilities are ready and willing to engage in dialog with producers and manufacturers about our preferences for responsible practices in the meat and poultry industry and the growing demand for these products.